Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, Krakow, 30-059, Poland.
Anim Genet. 2021 Feb;52(1):10-20. doi: 10.1111/age.13024. Epub 2020 Nov 20.
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is the only representative of its genus living in present-day Europe and North Africa, and all domestic rabbits are descendants of this one species, which is native to the Iberian Peninsula. There are over 300 breeds of rabbits that differ in size, coat color, length of ears and type of fur. Rabbits are bred for various reasons, such as for laboratory animals and a source of meat, wool and fur, as well as for pets and exhibition animals. The hair coat is a important economic trait of rabbits. Its development and quality are influenced by various factors, both environmental and genetic. The genetic mechanisms underlying its development have not been thoroughly researched. The aim of this review is to discuss the domestication of rabbits and the different aspects of rabbit genetics. A brief review of the properties of rabbit hair coat, hair coat development and hair cycle will be provided, followed by discussion of the factors regulating hair coat development, molecular control of hair coat development and the role of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of gene expression in the hair follicles of rabbits. Information about genetic regulation of pathways could provide useful tools for improving hair coat quality and be of practical use in rabbit breeding.
欧洲兔（Oryctolagus cuniculus）是现今欧洲和北非唯一存活的兔属代表物种，所有的家兔均源自这一原产于伊比利亚半岛的物种。现在有超过 300 种不同大小、毛色、耳朵长度和皮毛类型的兔子。人们出于各种原因饲养兔子，例如作为实验动物和肉类、羊毛和皮毛的来源，以及作为宠物和展览动物。兔毛是兔子的一个重要经济性状。其生长和质量受到环境和遗传等多种因素的影响。但其生长的遗传机制尚未得到深入研究。本文的目的是讨论家兔的驯化以及兔子遗传学的不同方面。本文将简要回顾兔毛的特性、毛发生长和毛发周期，然后讨论调节毛发生长的因素、毛发生长的分子调控以及非编码 RNA 在调控兔子毛囊基因表达中的作用。有关通路遗传调控的信息可能为改善毛被质量提供有用的工具，并在家兔养殖中具有实际用途。
