Genome-Wide Association Analyses Highlight the Potential for Different Genetic Mechanisms for Litter Size Among Sheep Breeds

Overview

Journal Front Genet

Date 2018 Apr 26

PMID 29692799

Citations 39

Authors

Song-Song Xu

Lei Gao

Xing-Long Xie

Yan-Ling Ren

Zhi-Qiang Shen

Feng Wang

Min Shen

Emma Eyorsdottir

Jon H Hallsson

Tatyana Kiseleva

Juha Kantanen

Meng-Hua Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Reproduction is an important trait in sheep breeding as well as in other livestock. However, despite its importance the genetic mechanisms of litter size in domestic sheep () are still poorly understood. To explore genetic mechanisms underlying the variation in litter size, we conducted multiple independent genome-wide association studies in five sheep breeds of high prolificacy (Wadi, Hu, Icelandic, Finnsheep, and Romanov) and one low prolificacy (Texel) using the Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip, respectively. We identified different sets of candidate genes associated with litter size in different breeds: , and in Wadi; , and in Hu; in Icelandic; , and in Finnsheep; in Romanov and , and in Texel. Further annotation of genes and bioinformatics analyses revealed that different biological pathways could be involved in the variation in litter size of females: hormone secretion (FSH and LH) in Wadi and Hu, placenta and embryonic lethality in Icelandic, folliculogenesis and LH signaling in Finnsheep, ovulation and preovulatory follicle maturation in Romanov, and estrogen and follicular growth in Texel. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the prolificacy trait in sheep and other mammals, suggesting targets for selection where the aim is to increase prolificacy in breeding projects.

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