Beyond the genome: A perspective on the use of DNA methylation profiles as a tool for the livestock industry

Implications Advancement in sequencing technologies is expediting functionally annotated genomes in parallel to genomic selection strategies. This is important if we are to go “beyond the genome” and include epigenetic modifications in our predication of genetic merit. We propose that DNA methylation can be harnessed as a molecular tool in key livestock species, through the use of epigenetic clocks to investigate health, longevity, productivity and environmental adaptation. Deviation from an epigenetic clock has the immediate potential as a molecular phenotype. To incorporate DNA methylation data into routine genetic merit predictions, development in high throughput, robust and cost-effective assays is needed.