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Kalds P, Zhou S, Gao Y, Cai B, Huang S, Chen Y, Wang X. Genetics of the phenotypic evolution in sheep: a molecular look at diversity-driving genes. Genet Sel Evol 2022; 54:61. [PMID: 36085023 PMCID: PMC9463822 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-022-00753-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After domestication, the evolution of phenotypically-varied sheep breeds has generated rich biodiversity. This wide phenotypic variation arises as a result of hidden genomic changes that range from a single nucleotide to several thousands of nucleotides. Thus, it is of interest and significance to reveal and understand the genomic changes underlying the phenotypic variation of sheep breeds in order to drive selection towards economically important traits. REVIEW Various traits contribute to the emergence of variation in sheep phenotypic characteristics, including coat color, horns, tail, wool, ears, udder, vertebrae, among others. The genes that determine most of these phenotypic traits have been investigated, which has generated knowledge regarding the genetic determinism of several agriculturally-relevant traits in sheep. In this review, we discuss the genomic knowledge that has emerged in the past few decades regarding the phenotypic traits in sheep, and our ultimate aim is to encourage its practical application in sheep breeding. In addition, in order to expand the current understanding of the sheep genome, we shed light on research gaps that require further investigation. CONCLUSIONS Although significant research efforts have been conducted in the past few decades, several aspects of the sheep genome remain unexplored. For the full utilization of the current knowledge of the sheep genome, a wide practical application is still required in order to boost sheep productive performance and contribute to the generation of improved sheep breeds. The accumulated knowledge on the sheep genome will help advance and strengthen sheep breeding programs to face future challenges in the sector, such as climate change, global human population growth, and the increasing demand for products of animal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kalds
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, 45511 Egypt
| | - Shiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Yawei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Bei Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Shuhong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Yulin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, 712100 China
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Brachygnathia Inferior in Cloned Dogs Is Possibly Correlated with Variants of Wnt Signaling Pathway Initiators. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23010475. [PMID: 35008901 PMCID: PMC8745273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormalities in animals cloned via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have been reported. In this study, to produce bomb-sniffing dogs, we successfully cloned four healthy dogs through SCNT using the same donor genome from the skin of a male German shepherd old dog. Veterinary diagnosis (X-ray/3D-CT imaging) revealed that two cloned dogs showed normal phenotypes, whereas the others showed abnormal shortening of the mandible (brachygnathia inferior) at 1 month after birth, even though they were cloned under the same conditions except for the oocyte source. Therefore, we aimed to determine the genetic cause of brachygnathia inferior in these cloned dogs. To determine the genetic defects related to brachygnathia inferior, we performed karyotyping and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for identifying small genetic alterations in the genome, such as single-nucleotide variations or frameshifts. There were no chromosomal numerical abnormalities in all cloned dogs. However, WGS analysis revealed variants of Wnt signaling pathway initiators (WNT5B, DVL2, DACT1, ARRB2, FZD 4/8) and cadherin (CDH11, CDH1like) in cloned dogs with brachygnathia inferior. In conclusion, this study proposes that brachygnathia inferior in cloned dogs may be associated with variants in initiators and/or regulators of the Wnt/cadherin signaling pathway.
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Derks MFL, Steensma M. Review: Balancing Selection for Deleterious Alleles in Livestock. Front Genet 2021; 12:761728. [PMID: 34925454 PMCID: PMC8678120 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.761728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmful alleles can be under balancing selection due to an interplay of artificial selection for the variant in heterozygotes and purifying selection against the variant in homozygotes. These pleiotropic variants can remain at moderate to high frequency expressing an advantage for favorable traits in heterozygotes, while harmful in homozygotes. The impact on the population and selection strength depends on the consequence of the variant both in heterozygotes and homozygotes. The deleterious phenotype expressed in homozygotes can range from early lethality to a slightly lower fitness in the population. In this review, we explore a range of causative variants under balancing selection including loss-of-function variation (i.e., frameshift, stop-gained variants) and regulatory variation (affecting gene expression). We report that harmful alleles often affect orthologous genes in different species, often influencing analogous traits. The recent discoveries are mainly driven by the increasing genomic and phenotypic resources in livestock populations. However, the low frequency and sometimes subtle effects in homozygotes prevent accurate mapping of such pleiotropic variants, which requires novel strategies to discover. After discovery, the selection strategy for deleterious variants under balancing selection is under debate, as variants can contribute to the heterosis effect in crossbred animals in various livestock species, compensating for the loss in purebred animals. Nevertheless, gene-assisted selection is a useful tool to decrease the frequency of the harmful allele in the population, if desired. Together, this review marks various deleterious variants under balancing selection and describing the functional consequences at the molecular, phenotypic, and population level, providing a resource for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn F L Derks
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Topigs Norsvin Research Center, Beuningen, Netherlands
| | - Marije Steensma
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Geiger M, Schoenebeck JJ, Schneider RA, Schmidt MJ, Fischer MS, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Exceptional Changes in Skeletal Anatomy under Domestication: The Case of Brachycephaly. Integr Org Biol 2021; 3:obab023. [PMID: 34409262 PMCID: PMC8366567 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obab023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
"Brachycephaly" is generally considered a phenotype in which the facial part of the head is pronouncedly shortened. While brachycephaly is characteristic for some domestic varieties and breeds (e.g., Bulldog, Persian cat, Niata cattle, Anglo-Nubian goat, Middle White pig), this phenotype can also be considered pathological. Despite the superficially similar appearance of "brachycephaly" in such varieties and breeds, closer examination reveals that "brachycephaly" includes a variety of different cranial modifications with likely different genetic and developmental underpinnings and related with specific breed histories. We review the various definitions and characteristics associated with brachycephaly in different domesticated species. We discern different types of brachycephaly ("bulldog-type," "katantognathic," and "allometric" brachycephaly) and discuss morphological conditions related to brachycephaly, including diseases (e.g., brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome). Further, we examine the complex underlying genetic and developmental processes and the culturally and developmentally related reasons why brachycephalic varieties may or may not be prevalent in certain domesticated species. Knowledge on patterns and mechanisms associated with brachycephaly is relevant for domestication research, veterinary and human medicine, as well as evolutionary biology, and highlights the profound influence of artificial selection by humans on animal morphology, evolution, and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Geiger
- Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich,
Karl-Schmid-Str. 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J J Schoenebeck
- Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University
of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25
9RG, UK
| | - R A Schneider
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California at San
Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, S-1164, San Francisco, CA
94143-0514, USA
| | - M J Schmidt
- Clinic for Small Animals—Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical
Neurology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Str.
114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - M S Fischer
- Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich-Schiller
University Jena, Erbertstr. 1, 07743 Jena,
Germany
| | - M R Sánchez-Villagra
- Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich,
Karl-Schmid-Str. 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
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Vanover M, Pivetti C, Galganski L, Kumar P, Lankford L, Rowland D, Paxton Z, Deal B, Wang A, Farmer D. Spinal Angulation: A Limitation of the Fetal Lamb Model of Myelomeningocele. Fetal Diagn Ther 2019; 46:376-384. [PMID: 30970373 DOI: 10.1159/000496201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The surgically induced fetal lamb model is the most commonly used large animal model of myelomeningocele (MMC) but is subject to variation due to surgical technique during defect creation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-one fetal lambs underwent creation of the MMC defect, followed by defect repair with either an extracellular matrix (ECM) patch (n = 10) or ECM seeded with placental mesenchymal stromal cells (n = 21). Postnatal hindlimb function was assessed using the Sheep Locomotor Rating (SLR) scale. Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine was used to measure the level and degree of spinal angulation, as well as cross-sectional area of remaining vertebral bone. RESULTS Median level of angulation was between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae, with a median angle of 24.3 degrees (interquartile range 16.2-35.3). There was a negative correlation between angulation degree and SLR (r = -0.44, p = 0.013). Degree of angulation also negatively correlated with the normalized cross-sectional area of remaining vertebral bone (r = -0.75, p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION Surgical creation of fetal MMC leads to varying severity of spinal angulation in the ovine model, which affects postnatal functional outcomes. Postnatal assessment of spinal angulation aids in standardization of the surgical model of fetal MMC repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Vanover
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA,
| | - Christopher Pivetti
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Laura Galganski
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Priyadarsini Kumar
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Lee Lankford
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Douglas Rowland
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Zachary Paxton
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Bailey Deal
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Aijun Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Diana Farmer
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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Hunting for a needle in a haystack: investigating inherited diseases of sheep. Vet Rec 2017; 181:164-166. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.j3748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Boegheim IJM, Leegwater PAJ, van Lith HA, Back W. Current insights into the molecular genetic basis of dwarfism in livestock. Vet J 2017; 224:64-75. [PMID: 28697878 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Impairment of bone growth at a young age leads to dwarfism in adulthood. Dwarfism can be categorised as either proportionate, an overall size reduction without changes in body proportions, or disproportionate, a size reduction in one or more limbs, with changes in body proportions. Many forms of dwarfism are inherited and result from structural disruptions or disrupted signalling pathways. Hormonal disruptions are evident in Brooksville miniature Brahman cattle and Z-linked dwarfism in chickens, caused by mutations in GH1 and GHR. Furthermore, mutations in IHH are the underlying cause of creeper achondroplasia in chickens. Belgian blue cattle display proportionate dwarfism caused by a mutation in RNF11, while American Angus cattle dwarfism is caused by a mutation in PRKG2. Mutations in EVC2 are associated with dwarfism in Japanese brown cattle and Tyrolean grey cattle. Fleckvieh dwarfism is caused by mutations in the GON4L gene. Mutations in COL10A1 and COL2A1 cause dwarfism in pigs and Holstein cattle, both associated with structural disruptions, while several mutations in ACAN are associated with bulldog-type dwarfism in Dexter cattle and dwarfism in American miniature horses. In other equine breeds, such as Shetland ponies and Friesian horses, dwarfism is caused by mutations in SHOX and B4GALT7. In Texel sheep, chondrodysplasia is associated with a deletion in SLC13A1. This review discusses genes known to be involved in these and other forms of dwarfism in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris J M Boegheim
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A J Leegwater
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hein A van Lith
- Division of Animal Welfare and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, NL-3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Back
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Dantas F, Medeiros G, Figueiredo A, Thompson K, Riet-Correa F. Skeletal Dysplasia with Craniofacial Deformity and Disproportionate Dwarfism in Hair Sheep of Northeastern Brazil. J Comp Pathol 2014; 150:245-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2013.11.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Revised: 09/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/23/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Marcolongo-Pereira C, Schild AL, Soares MP, Vargas Jr SF, Riet-Correa F. Defeitos congênitos diagnosticados em ruminantes na Região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul. PESQUISA VETERINÁRIA BRASILEIRA 2010. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-736x2010001000003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Foi realizado um estudo dos defeitos congênitas diagnosticados em bovinos, ovinos e bubalinos mediante revisão dos protocolos de necropsia do Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico da Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Pelotas entre 1978 e 2009. A ocorrência de defeitos congênitos em bovinos, ovinos e bubalinos representou 0,88%, 0,36% e 7,54% respectivamente, de todos os materiais dessas espécies recebidos. Em bovinos os defeitos esporádicos representaram 45,83% dos diagnósticos, os hereditários 6,25%, os provavelmente hereditários 29,16% e os ambientais ou provavelmente ambientais 16,66%. Dos 48 casos de defeitos congênitos diagnosticados em bovinos 21 (43,75%) afetaram o sistema esquelético (condrodisplasia, escoliose, desvio lateral da mandíbula, fenda palatina e malformação não classificada), nove (18,75%) o sistema nervoso central (hipoplasia dos lobos frontais e olfatórios, degeneração cerebelar cortical, espinha bífida, hipomielinogênese congênita, hipermetria hereditária, hipoplasia cerebelar e paquigiria), nove (18,75%) o sistema muscular (artrogripose), três (6,25%) o sistema cardiovascular (persistência do ducto arterioso e malformação não classificada), um (2,08%) o sistema linfático (hipoplasia linfática), um (2,08%) o sistema gastrintestinal (atresia anal), e, um (2,08%) o olho (catarata congênita). Em cinco casos (10,41%) vários sistemas estavam afetados (diprosopo). Em bovinos foram diagnosticadas diversas doenças hereditárias (hipermetria hereditária, artrogripose, hipoplasia linfática) ou suspeitas de serem hereditárias (condrodisplasia). Ocorreram, também, com menor freqüência, defeitos congênitos de origem ambiental (hipomielinogenese, por carência de cobre) ou possivelmente ambiental (fenda palatina, hipoplasia cerebelar, degeneração cerebelar cortical). Todos os casos de defeitos congênitos observados em ovinos (gêmeos anômalos e aprosopia) afetaram vários sistemas e eram esporádicos. Em bubalinos todas as malformações diagnosticadas são hereditárias (artrogripose, miotonia e dermatose mecânico-bolhosa) ou suspeitas de serem hereditárias (albinismo, megaesôfago e hidranencefalia/hipoplasia cerebelar). Concluiu-se que os defeitos congênitos esporádicos têm pouca importância nas três espécies e que defeitos congênitos de causas ambientais, apesar de pouco freqüentes, podem trazer prejuízos econômicos importantes em determinadas regiões ou estabelecimentos. As doenças hereditárias são importantes não só pela mortalidade mas, também, pela possibilidade de disseminação de genes indesejáveis nas diferentes raças. Em bubalinos a alta frequência de doenças hereditárias na raça Murrah foi atribuída a alta consanguinidade do rebanho brasileiro. Medidas de controle devem ser tomadas para evitar-se a contínua disseminação, principalmente dos genes recessivos, em bubalinos e bovinos.
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Hateley GO. Suspected hereditary kyphosis and lordosis in Swaledale sheep. Vet Rec 2009; 165:512. [PMID: 19855118 DOI: 10.1136/vr.165.17.512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Agerholm JS. Inherited disorders of ruminants: the sheep as a model of disease in humans. Vet J 2008; 177:305-6. [PMID: 18294882 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2007] [Accepted: 12/10/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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