Camelid genetics and reproductive biotechnologies.

The public profile of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos) increased significantly as it became a more common agricultural species around the world and the focus of more intense modern breeding techniques and of genomic studies. The alpaca is 1 of 7 camelids that together occupy some of the world's most arid ecosystems and which have had large beneficial impacts on the human cultures in these areas. Today, wild bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) and domestic bactrian (Camelus bac-tianus) and dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) primarily inhabit Central and South Asia and the Middle East, whereas wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) inhabit parts of South America along with domestic llamas (L. glama) and alpacas (Franklin 2011). The alpaca was domesticated from the wild vicuña 6000–7000 years ago in the Central Andes by a hunter–gath-erer society that selected for docile animals with fine hair (Marin et al. 2007). Alpacas, as well as llamas (which were domesticated most likely from guanacos), were important to ancient Andean civilizations (Wheeler 2012). Today, alpaca husbandry is most commonly practiced in association with llamas and introduced sheep and is the principal agricultural use of the extensive areas of high altitude, natural pasture in the Andean altiplano, where crop agriculture and successful raising of other domestic animals have proved unfeasible. Most of the world's alpaca are in Peru, typically in regions with high poverty and economic marginalization, making the role of the alpaca especially important because of their significant contributions to local indigenous economies. The animals provide meat, wool, fuel, transportation of goods, and an important source of cultural identity. The alpaca is especially coveted for its soft, fine-diameter, lightweight, and warm wool, used for luxurious blankets, sweaters, and cloth. Starting in the early 1980s, alpacas were exported from Chile, Bolivia, and Peru to Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and Europe, where small industries developed. Although the camelids are currently a minor agricultural species in these areas, their potential impact and importance is significant because of their ability to thrive in a variety of environments. The alpaca is the first camelid for which whole genome sequence information and a comprehensive genome map have been developed publically. The genome was sequenced using a female alpaca named " Carlotta " (AHFN-0088) by Already the alpaca has served as a reference for the other domestic and wild camelids for a broad range of comparative genomic studies. As has happened …