Microbiome breeding is a new artificial selection technique aimed at altering the genetic composition of the microbiome to benefit the animal host. Recent experimental and theoretical analyzes suggest that, as long as the genetic factors encoded by the microbiome influence host traits (e.g., health), and the microbiome is transmitted with sufficient fidelity between hosts, as in natural microbiome transmission between social animal individuals during the process, breeding that includes microbiome information is possible. 

• Ashley Hutt
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