Li Tingting, Xing Feng, Zhang Na, Chen Jieran, Zhang Yuting, Yang Hengqian, Peng Shiyu, Ma Runlin, Liu Qiuyue, Gan Shangquan, Wang Haitao
College of Life Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China.
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Genes (Basel). 2024 Dec 20;15(12):1637. doi: 10.3390/genes15121637.
(1) Background: The Hu sheep is a renowned breed characterized by high reproduction, year-round estrus, and resistance to high humidity and temperature conditions. However, the breed exhibits lower growth rates and meat yields, which necessitate improvements through selective breeding. The integration of molecular markers in sheep breeding programs has the potential to enhance growth performance, reduce breeding cycles, and increase meat production. Currently, the applications of SNP chips for genotyping in conjunction with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become a prevalent approach for identifying candidate genes associated with economically significant traits in livestock. (2) Methods: To pinpoint candidate genes influencing growth traits in Hu sheep, we recorded the birth weight, weaning weight, and weights at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 months for a total of 567 Hu sheep, and genotyping was performed using the Ovine 40K SNP chip. (3) Results: Through GWAS analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment, we identified three candidate genes associated with birth weight (, , and ). Additionally, we found two candidate genes linked to weaning weight ( and ), with also serving as a shared gene between birth weight and weaning weight traits. Furthermore, we identified eight candidate genes related to monthly weight (, , , , , , , and ). (4) Conclusion: Our findings revealed a total of 13 candidate genetic markers that can be utilized for molecular marker-assisted selection, aiming to improve meat production in sheep breeding programs.
(1) 背景：湖羊是一种著名的品种，具有高繁殖力、全年发情以及耐高湿高温环境的特点。然而，该品种生长速度较慢且产肉量较低，需要通过选育进行改良。在绵羊育种计划中整合分子标记有潜力提高生长性能、缩短育种周期并增加产肉量。目前，单核苷酸多态性（SNP）芯片用于基因分型并结合全基因组关联研究（GWAS）已成为识别与家畜经济重要性状相关候选基因的常用方法。(2) 方法：为了确定影响湖羊生长性状的候选基因，我们记录了总共567只湖羊的出生体重、断奶体重以及3、4、5、6和7月龄时的体重，并使用绵羊40K SNP芯片进行基因分型。(3) 结果：通过GWAS分析和KEGG通路富集，我们鉴定出三个与出生体重相关的候选基因（、和）。此外，我们发现两个与断奶体重相关的候选基因（和），同时也是出生体重和断奶体重性状的共享基因。此外，我们还鉴定出八个与月龄体重相关的候选基因（、、、、、、和）。(4) 结论：我们的研究结果揭示了总共13个候选遗传标记，可用于分子标记辅助选择，旨在改善绵羊育种计划中的产肉性能。
