Project description:Mear prodution is the most important trait for sheep. In this study, we performed a Genome-wide association study (GWAS) by using Illumina Ovine SNP50 BeadChip in 329 purebred sheep phenotyped for 11 growth and meat production traits (birth weight, weaning weight, 6-month weight, eye muscle area, fat thickness, pre-weaning gain, post-weaning gain, daily weight gain, height at withers , chest girth and shin circumference). A total of 319 sheep and 48,198 SNPs were fitted using TASSEL 3.0 software as random effects in a mixed linear model. 36 chromosome-wise significant SNPs were identified for 7 traits and 10 of them reached genome-wide significance level consistently for post-weaning gain. Gene annotation was implemented based on the latest version3.1 ovine genome sequence (released October 2012), and meanwhile we referenced genomic information of human, bovine, mouse and rat. More than one-third SNPs (14 out of 36) were located within ovine genes , some other were located close to ovine genes (878bp-398165bp apart). 329 sheep DNA were scanned using OvineSNP50 Beadchip and the association is done between the SNP data and 11 different meat prodution traits
Project description:Mear prodution is the most important trait for sheep. In this study, we performed a Genome-wide association study (GWAS) by using Illumina Ovine SNP50 BeadChip in 329 purebred sheep phenotyped for 11 growth and meat production traits (birth weight, weaning weight, 6-month weight, eye muscle area, fat thickness, pre-weaning gain, post-weaning gain, daily weight gain, height at withers , chest girth and shin circumference). A total of 319 sheep and 48,198 SNPs were fitted using TASSEL 3.0 software as random effects in a mixed linear model. 36 chromosome-wise significant SNPs were identified for 7 traits and 10 of them reached genome-wide significance level consistently for post-weaning gain. Gene annotation was implemented based on the latest version3.1 ovine genome sequence (released October 2012), and meanwhile we referenced genomic information of human, bovine, mouse and rat. More than one-third SNPs (14 out of 36) were located within ovine genes , some other were located close to ovine genes (878bp-398165bp apart).
Project description:Body weight (BW) is a critical economic trait for meat production in sheep. The current study aimed to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to detect significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with BW in Hu sheep.
Project description:Examination the DNA methylation statues of the main subpopulation of Chinese Mongolian sheep. A high quality methylome of Chinese Mongolian sheep was obtained, and established a list of DMRs potentially association with sheep body size
Project description:We performed a genome-wide analysis of mRNAs and lncRNAs from Small Tail Han sheep of genotypes FecBBFecBB (Han BB) and FecB+ FecB+ (Han++) and from Dorset sheep (Dorset) to identify potential regulators of fecundity. An integrated analysis revealed significantly correlated patterns of expression. Dramatic changes of mRNAs and lncRNAs suggest their critical roles in sheep fecundity. This study provides a novel view of the regulatory mechanisms involved in sheep fecundity.
Project description:This study presents a dynamic characterization of the sheep milk transcriptome aiming at achieving a better understanding of the sheep lactating mammary gland. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on total RNA extracted from milk somatic cells from ewes on days 10, 50, 120 and 150 after lambing. The experiment was performed in Spanish Churra and Assaf breeds, which differ in their milk production traits. Nearly 67% of the annotated genes in the reference genome (Oar_v3.1) were expressed in ovine milk somatic cells. For the two breeds and across the four lactation stages studied, the most highly expressed genes encoded caseins and whey proteins. We detected differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across lactation points, with the largest differences being found, between day 10 and day 150. Upregulated GO terms at late lactation stages were linked mainly to developmental processes linked to extracellular matrix remodeling. A total of 256 annotated DEGs were detected in the Assaf and Churra comparison. Some genes selectively upregulated in the Churra breed grouped under the endopeptidase and channel activity GO terms. These genes could be related to the higher cheese yield of this breed. Overall, this study provides the first integrated overview on sheep milk gene expression.
Project description:Inherited rickets of Corriedale sheep is characterized by decreased growth rate, thoracic lordosis and angular limb deformities. Previous outcross and backcross studies suggest it is a simple autosomal recessive disorder. A genome wide association study was conducted using the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip on 20 related sheep including 17 affected and 3 carriers. A homozygous region of 199 consecutive single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci was identified in all the affected sheep, covering a region of 10Mbp on ovine chromosome 6. Among 91 candidate genes in this region, exon 6 of the dentin matrix protein 1 gene (DMP1) was sequenced to reveal 9 SNPs including a nonsense mutation 253T/C which introduced a stop codon (R145X) and could truncate C-terminal amino acids. Genotyping by PCR-RFLP for this mutation showed that, all 17 affected sheep were “T T” genotypes and the 27 phenotypically normal sheep were either “C T” or “C C”. This locus is not in complete linkage disequilibrium with the other 8 SNPs that can all be ruled out as candidates. Previous research has shown that mutations in DMP1 gene are responsible for autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets in humans. Dmp1_knockout mice also exhibit rickets phenotypes. We believe the R145X mutation to be responsible for the inherited rickets found in Corriedale sheep. A simple diagnostic test can be designed to identify carriers with the defective “T” alleles. Affected sheep could be used as animal models for this form of human rickets, and for further investigation of the role of DMP1 in phosphate homeostasis A genome wide association study was conducted using the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip on 20 related sheep including 17 affected and 3 carriers to define homozygous regions with consecutive single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci only existing in all the affected sheep. Fine mapping was conducted by screening coding regions and splicing regions on the positional candidate genes within the homozygous regions by using more sheep
Project description:Texel and Ujumqin sheep show obvious differences in muscle and fat growth, so they are ideal models not only to understand the molecular mechanism in prenatal skeletal muscle development, but to identify the potential target genes of myostatin. To elucidate the phenotypic variation between the two sheep breeds and the dynamic characteristics of gene expression in skeletal muscle during the development, we examined the development of skeletal muscle in transcriptome-wide level at 70, 85,100,120 , 135 days post coitus (dpc),birth, 1 month and 2 month. Using the specialized and standardized sheep transcriptome-wide oligo DNA microarray (Agilent), we analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of longissmuss dorsi muscle from fetuses of Texel and Ujumqin sheep. We characterized dynamic transcriptome-wide profiles that accompany the prenatal skeletal muscle and fat development in Texel and Ujumqin sheep respectively, and compared the difference in profiles of gene expression between the two sheep breeds at the same developmental stage.Some potential myostatin target genes and other genes controlling the growth of skeletal muscle and adipose were identified for further examinations. Our findings not only contribute to understand the molecular mechanism of prenatal skeletal muscle development in large precocial species, but also provide some clues for human myopathy and obesity at prenatal stages. Moreover, we also can identify putative candidate genes for meat quality traits in farm animals.
Project description:In this study, we examined the association of DNA methylation with metabolic traits in humans using adipose tissue samples from the Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) cohort. The METSIM cohort has been thoroughly characterized for longitudinal clinical data of metabolic traits including a 3-point oral glucose tolerance test, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes complications, drug and diet questionnaire, as well as high density genotyping, and genome-wide expression in adipose. We performed epigenome-wide association studies on clinical traits using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing data and identified 61 signifiant associations for metabolic syndrome traits, corresponding to 25 unique loci. These associations include previously known genes, FASN, RXRA, MSH2, and MSH6, as well as 22 loci harboring 18 new candidate genes for diabetes and obesity in humans.