High-throughput DNA sequence analysis elucidates novel insight into the genetic basis of adaptation in local sheep

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 56; no. 4; p. 150
• Main Authors: Asadollahpour Nanaei, Hojjat, Amiri Ghanatsaman, Zeinab, Farahvashi, Mohammad Ali, Mousavi, Seyedeh Fatemeh, Banabazi, Mohammad Hossein, Asadi Fozi, Masood
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.05.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Animal populations; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Body size; Chromosomes; Climate; Climate adaptation; Domestic animals; Dynamic structural analysis; Genes; Genetic diversity; Genetic Variation; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - veterinary; Interferon regulatory factor 1; Life Sciences; Morphology; Nucleotide sequence; Nucleotides; Population dynamics; Population genetics; Population structure; Population studies; Regular Articles; Selection, Genetic; Sequence analysis; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sheep; Sheep - genetics; Sheep, Domestic - genetics; Sheep, Domestic - physiology; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Asia; Africa; Sheep; Whole genome; Candidate gene; Genetic variation; Local adaptation
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04002-1

Understanding how evolutionary factors related to climate adaptation and human selection have influenced the genetic architecture of domesticated animals is of great interest in biology. In the current study, by using 304 whole genomes from different geographical regions (including Europe, north Africa, Southwest Asia, east Asia, west Africa, south Asia, east Africa, Australia and Turkey), We evaluate global sheep population dynamics in terms of genetic variation and population structure. We further conducted comparative population analysis to study the genetic underpinnings of climate adaption to local environments and also morphological traits. In order to identify genomic signals under selection, we applied fixation index ( F ST) and also nucleotide diversity (θπ) statistical measurements. Our results revealed several candidate genes on different chromosomes under selection for local climate adaptation (e.g. HOXC12 , HOXC13 , IRF1 , FGD2 and GNAQ ), body size ( PDGFA , HMGA2 , PDE3A ) and also morphological related traits ( RXFP2 ). The discovered candidate genes may offer newel insights into genetic underpinning of regional adaptation and commercially significant features in local sheep.