New Youth Laboratory of DNA Technologies in Animal Husbandry Opens

The laboratory is headed by Veronika Kharzinova, a candidate of biological sciences and leading researcher.

"The list of the main types of agricultural, domestic and domesticated animals for which the panels of microsatellites recommended by ISAG/FAO are proposed includes the following species: cattle , pigs, goats, sheep, horses, camels, dogs and cats. At the same time, conducting a genetic examination of breeding producers of other important types of agricultural animals and poultry is also a necessary condition for conducting selection and breeding work. In this regard, our attention will be focused, including on conducting a genetic examination of breeding producers of reindeer, marals, yaks, geese," said Veronika Kharzinova.

The creation of a new youth laboratory is the result of long-term and fruitful work that has been carried out for more than 9 years. 

Thus, a team of researchers from the FGBNU FRC VIZh named after L.K. Ernst, headed by the DIRECTOR of the Center, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Natalia Zinovieva, has been conducting genetic studies of Russian reindeer populations since 2015. As a result, scientists have created a system for monitoring the reliability of the origin and assessing the biodiversity of Russian reindeer populations, based on the analysis of the polymorphism of 9 microsatellites. 

Elements of the test system have already been successfully implemented in reindeer herding enterprises of domestic reindeer in the following northern Russian regions: Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Murmansk Oblast, and the Komi Republic. Thus, from 2015 to 2023, molecular genetic testing was carried out on 2,902 domestic reindeer. The results obtained have become a key step in optimizing and improving the technologies of selection and breeding work in the reindeer herding industry - they contribute to its transition to a qualitatively different level from a scientific and practical point of view.