Aug 2026· Animals· Vol 16, pp. 2394· 0 citations· 30 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Target gene prediction and enrichment analysis indicated that pre-miR-1453 may participate in the regulation of chicken growth and serum biochemical parameters through pathways related to neuron development, cytoskeletal dynamics, and energy metabolism.
Abstract
Simple Summary Background: MicroRNAs are small molecules that help control how genes work in animals, and they play important roles in growth and development. This study investigated a specific genetic change (single-nucleotide polymorphism, SNP) in a microRNA called miR-1453 and its relationship with growth and health traits in chickens. Method: A total of 860 chickens from a special breeding population were examined; this population was created by crossing slow-growing Gushi chickens with fast-growing Anka broilers. Result: The results showed that this genetic change was linked to differences in hatch weight, as well as body weight measured at 2 and 4 weeks post-hatching, alongside altered levels of specific serum proteins and enzymes. The genetic change also affected the shape and stability of the miR-1453 molecule. Target gene prediction and pathway analysis suggested that miR-1453 may influence chicken growth through pathways involved in nerve development, cell structure, and energy use. Conclusions: These results indicate that this genetic marker could be useful for selecting chickens with better growth performance in breeding programs.
The gene TCF21, a subject of growing interest in molecular poultry genetics being an important player in cell differentiation and muscle and adipose tissue growth regulation has been recognized as an emerging regulatory gene. The study aimed to evaluate the potential use of molecular markers in selection, breeding, and improvement programs. This study included 100 samples of ROSS 308 broiler chickens, which were reared for 40 days. Field measurements were taken weekly, including body weight, body length, and chest width every two weeks. At 20 days of age, blood was collected in K3- EDTA tubes for laboratory analysis, including DNA extraction PCR and Sequencing. TCF21 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors and available evidence has suggested that it presents significant biological and molecular features. It’s thought to be involved with regulating the growth of muscle and fat tissue, and has been reported to influence body weight, growth rate, body composition and fat deposition capacity in broilers. On more recent reports, these polymorphisms were associated with several economically important traits, suggesting that TCF21 can be exploited as a molecular marker in contemporary selection programs aimed at improving productive performance and carcass quality in poultry. Combining genomic with phenotype information in genetic-improvement schemes is a big advance toward accurate and efficient commercial broiler production programs. The study aimed to focus on the TCF21 gene because it is one of the most prominent candidates directly related to the efficiency of production and profitability of poultry projects, given its role in regulating muscle formation, fat deposition, and some traits associated with feed conversion efficiency. The results showed the presence of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the TCF21 gene. Fourteen mitochondrial loci were identified, distributed across the two primaries used (seven variants each), reflecting significant genetic diversity in the studied regions. These results confirm the health of TCF21, as it can be one of the candidate combinations that contribute to the regulation of morphology and histogenesis through its effect on the differentiation of muscle and fat cells.
Mariam Kadhim Hussein, Ahmed Mahmoud Al-Nadawi· GSC Advanced Research and Re...· 0 citations
The parameters of individual growth curve can serve as pseudo-phenotype for genetic evaluation in livestock. In this study, we compared five nonlinear growth models using post-weaning body weights of 706 New Zealand White rabbits. Under the best-fitting model, two parameters of mature weight and maturity rate were subjected to GWAS through single-step genomic BLUP framework that integrated phenotypic records from non-genotyped animals with 41,359 SNPs genotyped in 198 individuals. Association analysis identified 147 relevant genomic regions, and also highlighted DNMT3A as a promising candidate gene for further functional investigation. siRNA-mediated knockdown of DNMT3A significantly impaired myoblast proliferation. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of DNMT3A-knockdown myoblasts identified 69,480 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Integrative analyses revealed substantial overlap between DMR-associated genes and GWAS candidate genes, with significant enrichment in vitamin B6 and tyrosine metabolism pathways. These findings suggest that DNMT3A may regulate rabbit growth via mediating DNA methylation of downstream genes.
Early postnatal growth is a critical determinant of meat production efficiency and long-term genetic improvement in goats; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying individual variation in growth performance remain poorly understood. In this study, a total of 123 Hechuan white goats were included. First, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for average daily gain (ADG) was performed using all 123 individuals. Subsequently, based on the coefficient of variation of ADG (CV = 65.6%), an extreme phenotype sampling (EPS) strategy was applied to select 39 individuals with extreme growth phenotypes for subsequent metabolomic, microbiome, and integrated mGWAS analyses.The results showed that ADG approximately followed a normal distribution across the 123 goats. GWAS identified 22 loci significantly associated with ADG, mapping to genes including DLK1, NCAPG2, LCORL, CNTNAP2, and SLC8A1, which are involved in pathways related to skeletal muscle development, cell cycle regulation, ion transport, and immune function. Metabolomic profiling detected 1,589 putative metabolites, revealing differential enrichment of lipid, amino acid, and bile acid metabolic pathways between fast- and slow-growing goats. Gut microbiome analysis demonstrated that Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Monoglobus were significantly enriched in fast-growing individuals, whereas Desulfovibrio was more abundant in slow-growing goats.Integrated mGWAS analysis further revealed extensive effects of host genetic variation on gut microbiota and fecal metabolites. Specifically, 11 bacterial genera were significantly associated with host genomic variants, among which Desulfovibrio exhibited the highest number of associated loci. Integration of multiple variant types consistently linked Desulfovibrio, Eubacterium_hallii_group, and Candidatus_Saccharimonas with genes such as ARHGAP24 and IGF2BP2. In addition, 14 metabolites were significantly associated with host genetic variants, with Lysopc(14:1(9Z)/0:0) and glycocholic acid showing the strongest associations. Notably, the peak signal for Lysopc was located within HMGA2.Collectively, these findings define a coordinated host genome–gut microbiota–metabolite network underlying early growth variation in goats and provide a mechanistic foundation for precision breeding and targeted nutritional strategies in goat production systems.
Simple Summary Growth and body conformation traits are important determinants of meat production and economic performance in sheep. Understanding their genetic basis can enhance breeding efficiency and support sustainable genetic improvement. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genomic regions associated with seven growth and body conformation traits in 401 sheep from four populations: Qira Black, Kyrgyz, Dorset × Hu crossbred, and Suffolk × Karakul crossbred sheep. After genotype quality control, 47,674 SNP markers were analyzed using a mixed linear model accounting for population structure and genetic relatedness. A total of 44 independent genomic regions were detected at a nominal significance threshold, containing 112 candidate genes potentially involved in skeletal development, cartilage formation, muscle growth, and metabolic regulation.
Erkinbay Azbergenov, Tao Jiang, Rui-zhi Yang et al.· Animals· 0 citations
Background:
Goat farming development begins with the availability of genetically and phenotypically superior livestock to ensure optimal productivity and reproduction.
Aim:
This study aimed to identify polymorphisms in the IGF1 gene and to evaluate their association with growth performance.
Methods:
A total of 105 goats were sampled, including 35 individuals from each of three Indonesian goat breeds: Peranakan Etawah (PE), Jawarandu, and Kacang, aged between 12 and 24 months. Growth parameters measured included body weight and morphometric characteristics. Genetic variation of the IGF1 gene was analyzed using Sanger sequencing. Morphometric data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) in R software to explore variation patterns, while associations between IGF1 gene polymorphisms and growth traits were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results:
Sequence analysis revealed significant nucleotide variations at certain positions, indicated by overlapping guanine (G) and thymine (T) chromatogram peaks, indicating a heterozygous genotype (G/T) at this locus. The IGF1 gene has diverse genotypes in all goat breeds, namely GG, GT, and TT. All genotypes were present except in the JW breed, where the TT genotype was absent. IGF1 gene diversity was significantly associated (P<0.05) with morphometric characteristics, including muzzle circumference, head length, ear length, ear width, rump length, and leg circumferenc. The GT genotype had the highest morphometric performance compared to the other genotypes.
Conclusion:
The IGF1 gene may serve as a potential candidate marker for marker-assisted selection (MAS) to improve the growth performance of Indonesian goats, although further validation is required.
Depison Depison, R. Harahap, Gushairiyanto Gushairiyanto et al.· Open Veterinary Journal· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Background and Aim: Improving growth performance and meat quality is a major objective in genetic improvement programs for indigenous poultry breeds. Kampung Unggul Balitbangtan (KUB) chickens are an improved Indonesian native breed with considerable potential for sustainable tropical poultry production. Transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGFβ2) plays an important role in regulating skeletal muscle development, cell proliferation, and tissue remodeling; however, its genetic variation and association with economically important traits in KUB chickens remain unknown. This study aimed to characterize TGFβ2 gene polymorphisms and evaluate their associations with growth performance and meat quality traits in KUB chickens receiving dietary multienzyme supplementation. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five one-day-old male KUB chickens were assigned to five dietary treatments containing different combinations of phytase and protease and reared for 90 days. Growth performance was assessed using feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and carcass weight (CW). Meat quality traits, including pH, texture, cooking loss (CL), water holding capacity, and color characteristics (L*, a*, and b*), were evaluated after slaughter. Genomic DNA extracted from muscle tissue was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing to identify TGFβ2 polymorphisms. Functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes was investigated using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. Results: Three TGFβ2 genotypes (CC, TC, and TT) were identified, with allele frequencies of 0.48 (C) and 0.52 (T). The TGFβ2 genotype was significantly associated with BW, CW, and FCR (p < 0.05), whereas FI was unaffected. Multienzyme supplementation significantly reduced CL, improved water holding capacity, and enhanced meat color characteristics without affecting pH or texture. Two exon single nucleotide polymorphisms, c.103C>T and c.99G>A, were identified, representing novel variants in KUB chickens. Functional enrichment analyses demonstrated significant involvement of extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, metabolic pathways, and biological processes related to muscle development and cell proliferation, supporting a nutrigenetic interaction between TGFβ2 polymorphism and enzyme supplementation. Conclusion: This study provides the first characterization of TGFβ2 polymorphisms in KUB chickens and demonstrates their association with growth performance and meat quality traits under multienzyme supplementation. The identified polymorphisms represent promising molecular markers for marker-assisted selection and precision nutrition strategies to improve productivity in indigenous tropical chicken populations.
S. Ayuti, M. Lamid, M. Arif et al.· Veterinary World· 0 citations
