Novel Silent Mutations in the <i>HIRA</i> Gene Associated with Litter Size in Sonid Sheep.

ABSTRACT: Improving ovine reproductive efficiency is an important breeding goal that could substantially enhance economic viability in the sheep industry. The histone cell cycle regulator (HIRA) gene has been functionally validated as a reproductive regulator in model organisms such as Drosophila and murine species; however, research on the effects of HIRA on the prolificacy in sheep remains scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between genetic variants of HIRA and litter size in sheep. In brief, we identified 15 novel exonic mutations in the Sonid sheep breed via direct sequencing. Notably, a linkage disequilibrium including the c.1521C>G, c.1572C>T, and c.1578G>A mutations on exon 14 of HIRA exhibited a significant association with litter

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12560918 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature