Detection of Selection Signatures Underlying Production and Adaptive Traits Based on Whole-Genome Sequencing of Six Donkey Populations.

ABSTRACT: Donkeys (Equus asinus) are an important farm animal. After long-term natural and artificial selection, donkeys now exhibit a variety of body sizes and production performance values. In this study, six donkey breeds, representing different regions and phenotypes, were used for second-generation resequencing. The sequencing results revealed more than seven million single nucleotide variants (SNVs), with an average of more than four million SNVs per species. We combined two methods, Z-transformed heterozygosity (ZHp) and unbiased estimates of pairwise fixation index (di) values, to analyze the signatures of selection. We mapped 11 selected regions and identified genes associated with coat color, body size, motion capacity, and high-altitude adaptation. These candidate genes included staining

SUBMITTER: Zhou Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7600737 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature