Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:23
Optimization of Performance Parameters of the TAGGG Telomere Length Assay
Published on: April 21, 2023
The Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) Gene Molecular Characterization in Sheep and the Association of Its
Fangfang Zhao1, Zhaohua He2, Huitong Zhou3
1Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene mutations impact sheep hair follicle development. Two non-synonymous TERT SNPs are linked to variations in wool staple strength, suggesting TERT as a candidate gene for wool traits.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Animal Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is crucial for hair follicle induction, activation, and growth in mammals.
- The role of TERT mutations in sheep hair follicle development and wool traits is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the TERT gene in sheep.
- To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TERT.
- To analyze the association between TERT SNPs and wool traits, specifically mean wool staple strength (MSS).
Main Methods:
- Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) technology was used to identify SNPs in the TERT gene.
- In situ hybridization was employed to examine TERT mRNA expression patterns.
- Association analysis was performed to link TERT SNPs with wool trait variations.
Main Results:
- Six SNPs were identified in the TERT gene, including two non-synonymous mutations.
- TERT mRNA expression was detected in various hair follicle components, with strong expression in the dermal papilla.
- The two non-synonymous TERT SNPs were significantly associated with mean wool staple strength (MSS).
Conclusions:
- The TERT gene is expressed in sheep hair follicles and plays a role in their development.
- TERT is a potential candidate gene for influencing wool traits, particularly mean wool staple strength, in sheep.
Related Concept Videos
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
01:39Epistasis
In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
01:08Cloning of Dolly the Sheep
The first successfully cloned mammal was Dolly, a sheep, born on 5th July 1996 at Roslin Institute, Scotland. The cloned sheep was named after the American singer Dolly Parton. Dolly lived for seven years and died of respiratory complications, which is speculated to be due to the actual age of her DNA. Because the DNA in cloned cells belongs to an older individual, the cloned individual’s life expectancy may be affected. Indeed, analysis of Dolly’s DNA revealed shorter telomeres than other...