1
|
Liu Z, Qin Q, Zhang C, Xu X, Dai D, Lan M, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhao D, Kong D, Qin T, Wu D, Gong X, Zhou X, Suhe A, Wang Z, Liu Z. Effects of nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of the KIAA1217, SNTA1 and LTBP1 genes on the growth traits of Ujumqin sheep. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1382897. [PMID: 38756519 PMCID: PMC11097667 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1382897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Sheep body size can directly reflect the growth rates and fattening rates of sheep and is also an important index for measuring the growth performance of meat sheep. In this study, high-resolution resequencing data from four sheep breeds (Dorper sheep, Suffolk sheep, Ouessant sheep, and Shetland sheep) were analyzed. The nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of three candidate genes (KIAA1217, SNTA1, and LTBP1) were also genotyped in 642 healthy Ujumqin sheep using MALDI-TOFMS and the genotyping results were associated with growth traits. The results showed that different genotypes of the KIAA1217 g.24429511T>C locus had significant effects on the chest circumferences of Ujumqin sheep. The SNTA1 g.62222626C>A locus had different effects on the chest depths, shoulder widths and rump widths of Ujumqin sheep. This study showed that these two sites can be used for marker-assisted selection, which will be beneficial for future precision molecular breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhichen Liu
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Qing Qin
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Chongyan Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xiaolong Xu
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Dongliang Dai
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Mingxi Lan
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yichuan Wang
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Deqing Kong
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Tian Qin
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Danni Wu
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xuedan Gong
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xingyu Zhou
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Alatan Suhe
- East Ujumqin Banner Hersig Animal Husbandry Development Limited Liability Company, Xilin Gol League, Xilinhot, China
| | - Zhixin Wang
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Mutton Sheep Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
- Goat Genetics and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Mutton Sheep Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
- Goat Genetics and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Hohhot, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Asadollahpour Nanaei H, Amiri Ghanatsaman Z, Farahvashi MA, Mousavi SF, Banabazi MH, Asadi Fozi M. High-throughput DNA sequence analysis elucidates novel insight into the genetic basis of adaptation in local sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod 2024; 56:150. [PMID: 38691202 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04002-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how evolutionary factors related to climate adaptation and human selection have influenced the genetic architecture of domesticated animals is of great interest in biology. In the current study, by using 304 whole genomes from different geographical regions (including Europe, north Africa, Southwest Asia, east Asia, west Africa, south Asia, east Africa, Australia and Turkey), We evaluate global sheep population dynamics in terms of genetic variation and population structure. We further conducted comparative population analysis to study the genetic underpinnings of climate adaption to local environments and also morphological traits. In order to identify genomic signals under selection, we applied fixation index (FST) and also nucleotide diversity (θπ) statistical measurements. Our results revealed several candidate genes on different chromosomes under selection for local climate adaptation (e.g. HOXC12, HOXC13, IRF1, FGD2 and GNAQ), body size (PDGFA, HMGA2, PDE3A) and also morphological related traits (RXFP2). The discovered candidate genes may offer newel insights into genetic underpinning of regional adaptation and commercially significant features in local sheep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hojjat Asadollahpour Nanaei
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, 76169-133, PB, Iran.
- Animal Science Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Zeinab Amiri Ghanatsaman
- Animal Science Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Farahvashi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, 76169-133, PB, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Banabazi
- Department of Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI) Agricultural Research, Education & Extension Organization (AREEO), 3146618361, Karaj, Iran
- Department of Animal Biosciences (HBIO), Centre for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VHC), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Masood Asadi Fozi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, 76169-133, PB, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li T, Jin M, Wang H, Zhang W, Yuan Z, Wei C. Whole-Genome Scanning for Selection Signatures Reveals Candidate Genes Associated with Growth and Tail Length in Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:687. [PMID: 38473071 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared to Chinese indigenous sheep, Western sheep have rapid growth rate, larger physique, and higher meat yield. These excellent Western sheep were introduced into China for crossbreeding to expedite the enhancement of production performance and mutton quality in local breeds. Here, we investigated population genetic structure and genome-wide selection signatures among the Chinese indigenous sheep and the introduced sheep based on whole-genome resequencing data. The PCA, N-J tree and ADMIXTURE results showed significant genetic difference between Chinese indigenous sheep and introduced sheep. The nucleotide diversity (π) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay results indicated that the genomic diversity of introduced breeds were lower. Then, Fst & π ratio, XP-EHH, and de-correlated composite of multiple signals (DCMS) methods were used to detect the selection signals. The results showed that we identified important candidate genes related to growth rate and body size in the introduced breeds. Selected genes with stronger selection signatures are associated with growth rate (CRADD), embryonic development (BVES, LIN28B, and WNT11), body size (HMGA2, MSRB3, and PTCH1), muscle development and fat metabolism (MSTN, PDE3A, LGALS12, GGPS1, and SAR1B), wool color (ASIP), and hair development (KRT71, KRT74, and IRF2BP2). Thus, these genes have the potential to serve as candidate genes for enhancing the growth traits of Chinese indigenous sheep. We also identified tail-length trait-related candidate genes (HOXB13, LIN28A, PAX3, and VEGFA) in Chinese long-tailed breeds. Among these genes, HOXB13 is the main candidate gene for sheep tail length phenotype. LIN28A, PAX3, and VEGFA are related to embryonic development and angiogenesis, so these genes may be candidate genes for sheep tail type traits. This study will serve as a foundation for further genetic improvement of Chinese indigenous sheep and as a reference for studies related to growth and development of sheep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Meilin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Huihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wentao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zehu Yuan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Caihong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aydin KB, Bi Y, Brito LF, Ulutaş Z, Morota G. Review of sheep breeding and genetic research in Türkiye. Front Genet 2024; 15:1308113. [PMID: 38333619 PMCID: PMC10850221 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1308113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The livestock industry in Türkiye is vital to the country's agricultural sector and economy. In particular, sheep products are an important source of income and livelihood for many Turkish smallholder farmers in semi-arid and highland areas. Türkiye is one of the largest sheep producers in the world and its sheep production system is heavily dependent on indigenous breeds. Given the importance of the sheep industry in Türkiye, a systematic literature review on sheep breeding and genetic improvement in the country is needed for the development and optimization of sheep breeding programs using modern approaches, such as genomic selection. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive literature review on the current characteristics of sheep populations and farms based on the most up-to-date census data and breeding and genetic studies obtained from scientific articles. The number of sheep has increased in recent years, mainly due to the state's policy of supporting livestock farming and the increase in consumer demand for sheep dairy products with high nutritional and health benefits. Most of the genetic studies on indigenous Turkish sheep have been limited to specific traits and breeds. The use of genomics was found to be incipient, with genomic analysis applied to only two major breeds for heritability or genome-wide association studies. The scope of heritability and genome-wide association studies should be expanded to include traits and breeds that have received little or no attention. It is also worth revisiting genetic diversity studies using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Although there was no report of genomic selection in Turkish sheep to date, genomics could contribute to overcoming the difficulties of implementing traditional pedigree-based breeding programs that require accurate pedigree recording. As indigenous sheep breeds are better adapted to the local environmental conditions, the proper use of breeding strategies will contribute to increased income, food security, and reduced environmental footprint in a sustainable manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenan Burak Aydin
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Ye Bi
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Luiz F. Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Zafer Ulutaş
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Türkiye
| | - Gota Morota
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vasu M, Ahlawat S, Chhabra P, Sharma U, Arora R, Sharma R, Mir MA, Singh MK. Genetic insights into fiber quality, coat color and adaptation in Changthangi and Muzzafarnagri sheep: A comparative skin transcriptome analysis. Gene 2024; 891:147826. [PMID: 37748630 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Changthangi sheep, which inhabit the high-altitude regions of Ladakh, are known for their fine fiber production and are characterized by grey skin and either black or white coats. In contrast, Muzzafarnagri sheep from the plains of Uttar Pradesh produce coarse wool and have white skin and coats. We conducted comparative global gene expression profiling on four biological replicates of skin from each breed. Notably, our analysis identified 149 up-regulated genes and 2,139 down-regulated genes in Changthangi sheep compared to Muzzafarnagri sheep, with a p-adjusted value (padj) of ≤0.05 and a Log2 fold change of ≥1.5. Gene Ontology analysis of the up-regulated genes revealed an enrichment of terms related to melanin biosynthesis and developmental pigmentation. Additionally, enriched KEGG pathways included tyrosine metabolism and metabolic pathways. Among the melanogenesis-related genes that exhibited higher expression in Changthangi sheep were TYR, TYRP1, DCT, SLC45A2, PMEL, MLANA, and OCA2. These findings confirm melanin's role in both the animals' black coat color and UV protection at high-altitude. Furthermore, we observed more pronounced expression of genes related to fiber quality, namely KRTAP6, KRTAP7, KRTAP13, and KRTAP2, in the fine wool-producing sheep from Ladakh. The results of the RNA sequencing were validated using real-time PCR on 10 genes governing fiber quality and coat color, with ACTB and PPIB serving as reference genes. In conclusion, our comparative skin transcriptome analysis of Changthangi and Muzzafarnagri sheep sheds light on the genetic differences associated with distinct phenotypic traits and environmental adaptability, offering valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahanthi Vasu
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India; ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Sonika Ahlawat
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India.
| | - Pooja Chhabra
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India
| | - Upasna Sharma
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India
| | - Reena Arora
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India
| | - Rekha Sharma
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, India
| | - M A Mir
- Mountain Research Centre for Sheep and Goat, Shuhama (Aulestang), SKUAST-Kashmir, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Singh
- ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lukic B, Curik I, Drzaic I, Galić V, Shihabi M, Vostry L, Cubric-Curik V. Genomic signatures of selection, local adaptation and production type characterisation of East Adriatic sheep breeds. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:142. [PMID: 37932811 PMCID: PMC10626677 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00936-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The importance of sheep breeding in the Mediterranean part of the eastern Adriatic has a long tradition since its arrival during the Neolithic migrations. Sheep production system is extensive and generally carried out in traditional systems without intensive systematic breeding programmes for high uniform trait production (carcass, wool and milk yield). Therefore, eight indigenous Croatian sheep breeds from eastern Adriatic treated here as metapopulation (EAS), are generally considered as multipurpose breeds (milk, meat and wool), not specialised for a particular type of production, but known for their robustness and resistance to certain environmental conditions. Our objective was to identify genomic regions and genes that exhibit patterns of positive selection signatures, decipher their biological and productive functionality, and provide a "genomic" characterization of EAS adaptation and determine its production type. RESULTS We identified positive selection signatures in EAS using several methods based on reduced local variation, linkage disequilibrium and site frequency spectrum (eROHi, iHS, nSL and CLR). Our analyses identified numerous genomic regions and genes (e.g., desmosomal cadherin and desmoglein gene families) associated with environmental adaptation and economically important traits. Most candidate genes were related to meat/production and health/immune response traits, while some of the candidate genes discovered were important for domestication and evolutionary processes (e.g., HOXa gene family and FSIP2). These results were also confirmed by GO and QTL enrichment analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our results contribute to a better understanding of the unique adaptive genetic architecture of EAS and define its productive type, ultimately providing a new opportunity for future breeding programmes. At the same time, the numerous genes identified will improve our understanding of ruminant (sheep) robustness and resistance in the harsh and specific Mediterranean environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boris Lukic
- Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, J.J, Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000, Osijek, Croatia.
| | - Ino Curik
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ivana Drzaic
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vlatko Galić
- Department of Maize Breeding and Genetics, Agricultural Institute Osijek, Južno predgrađe 17, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Mario Shihabi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luboš Vostry
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praque, Czech Republic
| | - Vlatka Cubric-Curik
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Adhikari M, Kantar MB, Longman RJ, Lee CN, Oshiro M, Caires K, He Y. Genome-wide association study for carcass weight in pasture-finished beef cattle in Hawai'i. Front Genet 2023; 14:1168150. [PMID: 37229195 PMCID: PMC10203587 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1168150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic markers for cattle production and reproduction traits. Several publications have reported Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for carcass-related traits in cattle, but these studies were rarely conducted in pasture-finished beef cattle. Hawai'i, however, has a diverse climate, and 100% of its beef cattle are pasture-fed. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 400 cattle raised in Hawai'i islands at the commercial harvest facility. Genomic DNA was isolated, and 352 high-quality samples were genotyped using the Neogen GGP Bovine 100 K BeadChip. SNPs that did not meet the quality control standards were removed using PLINK 1.9, and 85 k high-quality SNPs from 351 cattle were used for association mapping with carcass weight using GAPIT (Version 3.0) in R 4.2. Four models were used for the GWAS analysis: General Linear Model (GLM), the Mixed Linear Model (MLM), the Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU), the Bayesian-Information and Linkage-Disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK). Results and Discussion: Our results indicated that the two multi-locus models, FarmCPU and BLINK, outperformed single-locus models, GLM and MLM, in beef herds in this study. Specifically, five significant SNPs were identified using FarmCPU, while BLINK and GLM each identified the other three. Also, three of these eleven SNPs ("BTA-40510-no-rs", "BovineHD1400006853", and "BovineHD2100020346") were shared by multiple models. The significant SNPs were mapped to genes such as EIF5, RGS20, TCEA1, LYPLA1, and MRPL15, which were previously reported to be associated with carcass-related traits, growth, and feed intake in several tropical cattle breeds. This confirms that the genes identified in this study could be candidate genes for carcass weight in pasture-fed beef cattle and can be selected for further breeding programs to improve the carcass yield and productivity of pasture-finished beef cattle in Hawai'i and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep Adhikari
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Michael B. Kantar
- Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Ryan J. Longman
- East West Center, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Department of Geography and Environment, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - C. N. Lee
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Melelani Oshiro
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Kyle Caires
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Yanghua He
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kalds P, Zhou S, Gao Y, Cai B, Huang S, Chen Y, Wang X. Genetics of the phenotypic evolution in sheep: a molecular look at diversity-driving genes. Genet Sel Evol 2022; 54:61. [PMID: 36085023 PMCID: PMC9463822 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-022-00753-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After domestication, the evolution of phenotypically-varied sheep breeds has generated rich biodiversity. This wide phenotypic variation arises as a result of hidden genomic changes that range from a single nucleotide to several thousands of nucleotides. Thus, it is of interest and significance to reveal and understand the genomic changes underlying the phenotypic variation of sheep breeds in order to drive selection towards economically important traits. REVIEW Various traits contribute to the emergence of variation in sheep phenotypic characteristics, including coat color, horns, tail, wool, ears, udder, vertebrae, among others. The genes that determine most of these phenotypic traits have been investigated, which has generated knowledge regarding the genetic determinism of several agriculturally-relevant traits in sheep. In this review, we discuss the genomic knowledge that has emerged in the past few decades regarding the phenotypic traits in sheep, and our ultimate aim is to encourage its practical application in sheep breeding. In addition, in order to expand the current understanding of the sheep genome, we shed light on research gaps that require further investigation. CONCLUSIONS Although significant research efforts have been conducted in the past few decades, several aspects of the sheep genome remain unexplored. For the full utilization of the current knowledge of the sheep genome, a wide practical application is still required in order to boost sheep productive performance and contribute to the generation of improved sheep breeds. The accumulated knowledge on the sheep genome will help advance and strengthen sheep breeding programs to face future challenges in the sector, such as climate change, global human population growth, and the increasing demand for products of animal origin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kalds
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, 45511 Egypt
| | - Shiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Yawei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Bei Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Shuhong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Yulin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, 712100 China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kizilaslan M, Arzik Y, White SN, Piel LMW, Cinar MU. Genetic Parameters and Genomic Regions Underlying Growth and Linear Type Traits in Akkaraman Sheep. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081414. [PMID: 36011330 PMCID: PMC9407525 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, the genetic architecture of growth and linear type traits were investigated in Akkaraman sheep. Estimations of genomic heritability, genetic correlations, and phenotypic correlations were implemented for 17 growth and linear type traits of 473 Akkaraman lambs by the univariate and multivariate analysis of animal mixed models. Correspondingly, moderate heritability estimates, as well as high and positive genetic/phenotypic correlations were found between growth and type traits. On the other hand, 2 genome-wide and 19 chromosome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms were found to be associated with the traits as a result of animal mixed model-based genome-wide association analyses. Accordingly, we propose several genes located on different chromosomes (e.g., PRDM2, PTGDR, PTPRG, KCND2, ZNF260, CPE, GRID2, SCD5, SPIDR, ZNF407, HCN3, TMEM50A, FKBP1A, TLE4, SP1, SLC44A1, and MYOM3) as putative quantitative trait loci for the 22 growth and linear type traits studied. In our study, specific genes (e.g., TLE4, PTGDR, and SCD5) were found common between the traits studied, suggesting an interplay between the genetic backgrounds of these traits. The fact that four of the proposed genes (TLE4, MYOM3, SLC44A1, and TMEM50A) are located on sheep chromosome 2 confirms the importance of these genomic regions for growth and morphological structure in sheep. The results of our study are therefore of great importance for the development of efficient selection indices and marker-assisted selection programs, as well as for the understanding of the genetic architecture of growth and linear traits in sheep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Kizilaslan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
- International Center for Livestock Research and Training Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara 06852, Turkey
| | - Yunus Arzik
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
- International Center for Livestock Research and Training Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara 06852, Turkey
| | - Stephen N. White
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Lindsay M. W. Piel
- USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research, Washington State University Pullman, Pullman, WA 991646630, USA
| | - Mehmet Ulas Cinar
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +90-352-2076666-38601
| |
Collapse
|