Detection of Genetic Variants and Their Association with Coat Color in Asian Goats.

Mammals display a wide range of coat colors, with the melanocortin 1 receptor gene () playing a pivotal role in the genetic regulation of pigmentation. In this study, we investigated genetic variants in goat populations from four Asian countries to identify genetic factors associated with coat color variation. The complete coding sequence of was analyzed to detect variants and determine genotypes in goats from Nepal ( = 122), the Philippines ( = 110), Cambodia ( = 30), and Kazakhstan ( = 30). Seven variants were identified, three of which were novel, while four had been previously reported in other goat populations. Among the novel variants, a frameshift mutation (c.147delG) unique to Nepalese goats was predicted to cause substantial disruption of the MC1R protein structure, suggesting its potential role in coat color determination. Additionally, two known missense variants (c.676A > G and c.801C > G) were inferred to affect MC1R function and may contribute to pigmentation variation. Further investigations with larger sample sizes are warranted to clarify the phenotypic effects of these genotypic variants and to better understand the genetic basis of coat color in goats.