Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
08:27
Large-Scale Multi-Omics Genome-Wide Association Studies Mo-GWAS: Guidelines for Sample Preparation and Normalization
Published on: July 27, 2021
4.8K
Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Candidate Genes for Body Size Traits in Wanyue Black Pigs
Haibo Ye1,2, Wei Li1,2, Fang Tian1,2
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|January 10, 2026
Summary
This study identified genetic loci influencing body size in Wanyue Black pigs using genome-wide association studies. Findings offer candidate genes and markers for improving pig breeding and growth traits.
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Genomics
- Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Analysis
Background:
- Wanyue Black pigs are a valuable breed, but their genetic basis for body-size traits requires further elucidation.
- Understanding genetic factors controlling body size is crucial for efficient livestock breeding and production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic variants and genes associated with body-size-related traits in Wanyue Black pigs.
- To explore the genetic architecture of growth and adaptability in this breed.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic data collection from 139 female Wanyue Black pigs.
- Genotyping using a 50K SNP array followed by quality control and imputation.
- Genome-wide association study (GWAS), transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), and phenome-wide association study (PheWAS).
Main Results:
- Four genome-wide significant loci were identified, including specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
- The gene PTH2R expression was significantly linked to pituitary-related traits via TWAS.
- Selection signal analysis highlighted genomic regions enriched in circadian rhythm and MAPK signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- The study provides candidate genes and molecular markers for genetic improvement in Wanyue Black pigs.
- Identified pathways are critical for growth regulation and adaptive evolution in the breed.
- Results contribute to understanding the genetic basis of complex traits in livestock.
More Related Videos
11:22Using RNA-mediated Interference Feeding Strategy to Screen for Genes Involved in Body Size Regulation in the Nematode C. elegans
Published on: February 13, 2013
12.8K
14:35Post-Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure in Closed-chest Coronary Occlusion/Reperfusion Model in Göttingen Minipigs and Landrace Pigs
Published on: April 17, 2021
9.0K
Related Concept Videos
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
15.3K
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
15.3K
01:33Pleiotropy
43.2K
Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
43.2K
01:18Polygenic Traits
68.8K
When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
68.8K
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
17.9K
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
17.9K
01:19X-linked Traits
58.2K
In most mammalian species, females have two X sex chromosomes and males have an X and Y. As a result, mutations on the X chromosome in females may be masked by the presence of a normal allele on the second X. In contrast, a mutation on the X chromosome in males more often causes observable biological defects, as there is no normal X to compensate. Trait variations arising from mutations on the X chromosome are called “X-linked”.
58.2K
02:41Lethal Alleles
17.7K
Agouti: A Lethal Allele
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
17.7K