Cdrom Archive: A Gateway to Study Camel Phenotypes

Overview

Journal Front Genet

Date 2019 Feb 27

PMID 30804986

Citations 8

Authors

Hasan Alhaddad

Bader H Alhajeri

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Camels are livestock that exhibit unique morphological, biochemical, and behavioral traits, which arose by natural and artificial selection. Investigating the molecular basis of camel traits has been limited by: (1) the absence of a comprehensive record of morphological trait variation (e.g., diseases) and the associated mode of inheritance, (2) the lack of extended pedigrees of specific trait(s), and (3) the long reproductive cycle of the camel, which makes the cost of establishing and maintaining a breeding colony (i.e., monitoring crosses) prohibitively high. Overcoming these challenges requires (1) detailed documentation of phenotypes/genetic diseases and their likely mode of inheritance (and collection of related DNA samples), (2) conducting association studies to identify phenotypes/genetic diseases causing genetic variants (instead of classical linkage analysis, which requires extended pedigrees), and (3) validating likely causative variants by screening a large number of camel samples from different populations. We attempt to address these issues by establishing a systematic way of collecting camel DNA samples, and associated phenotypic information, which we call the "Cdrom Archive." Here, we outline the process of building this archive to introduce it to other camel researchers (as an example). Additionally, we discuss the use of this archive to study the phenotypic traits of Arabian Peninsula camel breeds (the "Mezayen" camels). Using the Cdrom Archive, we report variable phenotypic traits related to the coat (color, length, and texture), ear and tail lengths, along with other morphological measurements.

Citing Articles

Identification of novel genetic loci related to dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) morphometrics, biomechanics, and behavior by genome-wide association studies.

Pastrana C, Gonzalez F, Macri M, Martinez Martinez M, Ciani E, Bermejo J BMC Vet Res. 2024; 20(1):418.

PMID: 39294626 PMC: 11409489. DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04263-w.

Scanning electron microscopy and morphometric analysis of the hair in dromedaries with SEM-EDX in relation to age.

Alsafy M, El-Gendy S, Derbalah A, Rashwan A, Haddad S BMC Zool. 2024; 9(1):17.

PMID: 39010185 PMC: 11247770. DOI: 10.1186/s40850-024-00204-0.

Depraved appetite in dromedary camels: Clinical, ultrasonographic, and postmortem findings.

Tharwat M, El-Ghareeb W, Almundarij T Open Vet J. 2024; 14(2):652-663.

PMID: 38549572 PMC: 10970125. DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i2.5.

Towards phenotyping adaptive traits in camels: A study of the influence of hypotonic saline solutions on blood cell area.

Alhaddad H, Alnughaimish A, Alhajeri D, Alhajeri B PLoS One. 2024; 19(3):e0298336.

PMID: 38466651 PMC: 10927079. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298336.

Domestication of the Dromedary Revisited and Its Consequences for Legislation as to Keeping Livestock or Pet Animals.

Smits M, Joosten H, Faye B, Burger P Animals (Basel). 2023; 13(13).

PMID: 37443848 PMC: 10339885. DOI: 10.3390/ani13132050.

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