Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, C. Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal y Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Av. Carvallo Calero, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
Genes (Basel). 2024 Nov 15;15(11):1477. doi: 10.3390/genes15111477.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Understanding the genetic architecture of autochthonous European cattle breeds is important for developing effective conservation strategies and sustainable breeding programs. Spanish beef cattle, which trace their origins to ancient migrations from the Near East with later admixture from African populations, exhibit a rich genetic diversity shaped by environmental adaptation and selective breeding. Runs of Homozygosity (ROH) are extended stretches of identical genetic material inherited from both parents. They serve as indicators of inbreeding and selection signatures within populations. ROH islands, or regions of the genome where ROH segments are highly concentrated across individuals within a breed, indicate genomic regions under selective pressure.
This study explores the distribution of ROH islands across seven Spanish beef cattle breeds (Asturiana de los Valles, Avileña-Negra Ibérica, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Retinta, Pirenaica, and Rubia Gallega). By analyzing high-density SNP data, we characterized ROH patterns and identified genomic regions with high levels of homozygosity, which may indicate selection pressures or common ancestry.
Our findings revealed breed-specific ROH patterns as well as shared ROH islands, underscoring genetic relationships and differentiation among the breeds. Notably, Morucha displayed the highest number of ROH, while Asturiana de los Valles had the fewest. F values, which indicate genomic inbreeding, varied among the breeds, with Morucha and Retinta being associated with higher values. We identified 57 ROH islands, with shared regions among populations that suggest common ancestral selection pressures. Key genes within these regions, like MSTN, are associated with muscle growth, body weight, and fertility.
This study offers valuable insights for breeding strategies and conservation efforts, highlighting the genetic diversity and historical background of Spanish cattle breeds.
背景/目的：了解欧洲本土牛种的遗传结构对于制定有效的保护策略和可持续的养殖计划至关重要。西班牙肉牛起源于古代从中东的迁徙，后来与非洲种群混合，表现出丰富的遗传多样性，这是由环境适应和选择性繁殖塑造的。纯合区域（ROH）是从父母双方遗传的相同遗传物质的延伸片段。它们是群体内近亲繁殖和选择特征的指标。ROH 岛，即在一个品种内的个体之间高度集中的 ROH 片段的基因组区域，表明存在受到选择压力的基因组区域。
本研究探讨了 ROH 岛在七个西班牙肉牛品种（Asturiana de los Valles、Avileña-Negra Ibérica、Bruna dels Pirineus、Morucha、Retinta、Pirenaica 和 Rubia Gallega）中的分布情况。通过分析高密度 SNP 数据，我们描述了 ROH 模式并确定了具有高水平同质性的基因组区域，这些区域可能表明选择压力或共同祖先。
我们的研究结果揭示了品种特异性的 ROH 模式以及共同的 ROH 岛，突显了品种之间的遗传关系和分化。值得注意的是，Morucha 显示出最高数量的 ROH，而 Asturiana de los Valles 则最少。F 值，指示基因组近亲繁殖，在品种之间有所不同，Morucha 和 Retinta 与较高的值相关。我们确定了 57 个 ROH 岛，这些区域在种群之间存在共享，表明存在共同的祖先选择压力。这些区域内的关键基因，如 MSTN，与肌肉生长、体重和生育能力有关。
本研究为育种策略和保护工作提供了有价值的见解，突出了西班牙牛种的遗传多样性和历史背景。
