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Polymorphisms and genes associated with puberty in heifers
Marina R S Fortes1, Loan To Nguyen1, Laercio R Porto Neto2
1The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Abstract:
Puberty onset is a multifactorial process influenced by genetic determinants and environmental conditions, especially nutritional status. Genes, genetic variations, and regulatory networks compose the molecular basis of achieving puberty. In this article, we reviewed the discovery of multiple polymorphisms and genes associated with heifer puberty phenotypes and discuss the opportunities to use this evolving knowledge of genetic determinants for breeding early pubertal Bos indicus-influenced cattle. The discovery of polymorphisms and genes was mainly achieved through candidate gene studies, quantitative trait loci analyses, genome-wide association studies, and recently, global gene expression studies (transcriptome). These studies are recapitulated and summarized in the current review.
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