Whole‐genome analysis identifying candidate genes of altitude adaptive ecological thresholds in yak populations

The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is an iconic symbol of animal husbandry on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Long‐term domestication and natural selection have led to a wide distribution of yak, forming many ecological populations to adapt to the local ecological environment. High altitude is closely related to oxygen density, and it is an important environmental ecological factor for biological survival and livestock production. The aim of the present study was to perform a preliminary analysis to identify the candidate genes of altitude distribution adapted ecological thresholds in yak using next‐generation sequence technology. A total of 15,762,829 SNPs were obtained from 29 yaks with high‐ and low‐altitude distribution by genome‐wide sequencing. According to the results of the selective sweep analysis with FST and ZHp, 21 candidate genes were identified. 14 genes (serine/threonine protein kinase TNNI3K, TEN1, DYM, ITPR1, ZC4H2, KNTC1, ADGRB3, CLYBL, TANGO6, ASCC3, KLHL3, PDE4D, DEPDC1B and AGBL4) were grouped into 32 Gene Ontology terms, and four genes (RPS6KA6, ITPR1, GNAO1 and PDE4D) annotated in 35 pathways, including seven environmental information processing and one environmental adaptation. Therefore, the novel candidate genes found in the current study do not only support new theories about high‐altitude adaptation, but also further explain the molecular mechanisms of altitude adaptation threshold in yaks.     

Whole genome sequence analysis to detect signatures of positive selection for high fecundity in sheep

Ovulation rate and prolificacy are the most important reproductive traits that have major impact on the efficiency of lamb meat production. Here, we compared the whole genomes of the Romanov sheep, known as one of the high prolific breeds, and four other sheep breeds namely Assaf, Awassi, Cambridge and British du cher, to identify genetic mechanisms underlying prolificacy in sheep. Selection signature analysis revealed 637 and 477 protein‐coding genes under positive selection from F_ST and nucleotide diversity (Pi) statistics, respectively. Further analysis showed that several candidate genes including LEPR, PDGFRL and KLF5 genes are involved in sheep prolificacy. The identified candidate genes in the selected regions are novel and provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying prolificacy in sheep and can be useful in sheep breeding programmes to develop improved breeds for high reproductive efficiency.     

Sperm competition and the evolution of sperm form and function in mammals

Sperm competition is a powerful selective force that has influenced many reproductive traits in males and females although additional evolutionary explanations may help to understand the diversity of mammalian reproduction. Sperm morphology varies considerably in mammals with extreme examples in several rodent lineages in which a wide range of sizes and complex head morphologies have been identified. Mammalian spermatozoa also differ in function, with swimming velocity and trajectory showing much divergence. Underlying processes mediating function have received little attention so far, but differences in timing and proportion of sperm undergoing capacitation or acrosomal exocytosis may be related to variation in signalling processes. Furthermore, energy required for sperm functions (such as motion, signalling and overall maintenance of cell integrity) can be produced and consumed, following different patterns among species and this could be the result of several selective forces. A more thorough understanding of the diversity in structure and function of sperm cells, and underlying selective forces, may help us develop better methods to assess them taking into account particulars and generalities of sperm form and performance. Such tests could then become more reliable in estimations of the impact of cryopreservation or effect of changes in the environment and their relevance for fertility.     

猪主要经济性状的基因组选择研究

旨在系统比较GBLUP、SSGBLUP、BayesA、BayesB、BayesC、BayesLASSO、BSLMM和BayesR等8种方法对猪重要经济性状基因组选择的准确性。本研究以本实验室收集的2 585头大白猪达100kg日龄、达100kg背膘厚和母猪乳头数3个性状为分析对象,结合猪50K基因芯片分型数据,以加性模型为基础,利用5倍交叉验证比较8种方法的基因组选择准确性。研究发现,基因组选择的准确性与不同性状估计遗传力呈正相关。交叉验证结果表明,预测准确性最高的性状为达100kg日龄,但不同方法在不同性状中表现并不完全相同,在达100kg日龄和达100kg背膘厚中SSGBLUP基因组预测准确性均为最高,而在母猪乳头数中BayesA的基因组预测准确性最高。综上表明,对小样本开展基因组预测时,中、高等遗传力性状可以选择SSGBLUP方法,低等遗传力性状可以选择BayesA方法。如何优化和选择一种广泛适用于所有性状的方法,可能是未来研究的方向。     

养殖(畜牧)领域专业学位研究生论文选题状况分析

养殖(畜牧)领域专业学位研究生论文选题具有广泛性、交叉性、应用性和创新性等特点,本文以甘肃农业大学2012-2016届75篇已授学位的学位论文选题为讨论对象,总结论文选题的经验和存在的问题,以期为今后该类研究生论文的选题和提高培养质量提供参考。     

现阶段高校自主招生录取问题及对策

我国高校自主招生强调通过考核考生综合素质来选拔适合各校办学特色和育人理念的人才,它一定程度上改变了“唯分数论”的招生模式,是高考改革的有益尝试。文中分析了近年来高校自主招生选拔录取中的问题,对如何在确保公平性的前提下继续扩大招生规模及完善和健全录取机制提出了一些对策。     

轮回选择培育紫花苜蓿耐盐新品系

经过二代轮回选择和一代混合选择得到的70个耐盐优株相互杂交的后代群体为材料,在含盐量为0.3%~0.5%的盐碱地上种植,通过表型选择挑出106个耐盐优株,并进行了耐盐性一般配合力的测定,其中耐盐性一般配合力高的植株73株,中等的23株,较低的10株。淘汰一般配合力较低和中等的植株,让耐盐性一般配合力高的优株相互杂交,完成第三代轮回选择,得到了耐盐优株相互杂交的耐盐苜蓿新品系。     

Polyethylene glycol influences feeding behaviour of dairy goats browsing on bushland with different herbage cover

The effects of supplemental polyethylene glycol (PEG) on feeding behaviour, diet composition, intake and milk production were studied in late lactating Sarda goats browsing on a lentisk-based bushland with different herbage cover. The goats were allotted to two groups that browsed 7 h daily on 2 plots characterised by different cover proportions of woody and herbaceous species. These proportions were 90% woody vs. 10% herbaceous species in one plot (W — woody, close bushland with low herbage cover) and 70% woody vs. 30% herbaceous species in the other plot (H — herbaceous, open bushland with high herbage cover). Each group was divided into two sub-groups: one fed with 50 g day^− 1 of PEG 4000 MW (PEG⁺) and the other receiving no PEG supplementation (PEG⁻). The feeding behaviour was different between groups; goats in herbaceous plot (H-goats), had a longer grazing time, expressed as percentage of total observation time than the counterparts (64% vs. 58%, P < 0.05). The intake was not affected by the treatments. The percentage of the species eaten by the goats was different in the two groups: H-goats ate more herbaceous and less woody species than goats in woody plot (W-goats). In each group the PEG tended to affect the botanical composition of the diet. PEG dosed goats ate more tanniferous species than control counterparts (P = 0.12). The average daily milk production was 473, 591, 541 and 589 ml, respectively in W-PEG^−, W-PEG⁺, H-PEG⁻ and H-PEG⁺ sub-groups with significant effect of herbage cover × PEG dose interaction (P < 0.05). The milk urea was affected by herbage cover (P < 0.001) and PEG supplementation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the effect of PEG is strictly dependent on pasture composition. In open bushland, featured by moderate woody cover, the effect of PEG is more intense on diet selection, due to its marked post-ingestive effects. In close bushland, characterised by high proportion of tanniferous species prevails the efficacy of PEG as a performance booster.     

The role of genetic engineering in livestock production

In this paper we discuss the use of genetic engineering in livestock production. We examine the main two different aspects of genetic engineering: cloning and transgenesis. After commenting what has been expected from both techniques in livestock production in the last 25 years, the practical difficulties for implementing cloning and transgenesis are examined. Apart from technical difficulties, problems derived from the detection of genetically superior animals and evaluation of the clones and the transgenic animals make these techniques less interesting than they appear to be. Most of the observed variability of the economically interesting traits is not genetic, genetic evaluation needs a large number of animals and cloning success will represent a serious loss of genetic variability and the loss of the flexibility needed for markets in constant evolution. There is a risk in transgenic animals of production of new intermediate biochemical products that may be toxic, allergenic or carcinogenic. The benefits produced by transgenic animals hitherto hardly justify this risk. The expectations that genetic engineering produced 25 years ago should be re-examined, considering the risks and the high investment required.     

青岛市城阳区主要绿化树种滞尘能力研究

对青岛市城阳区的21种园林植物进行了滞尘能力的测定.结果表明:不同树种的滞尘能力存在很大差异,其滞尘量能相差4倍以上;第一周滞尘量对总滞尘量的贡献最大;同一树种在不同位点滞尘量不同.因此,在城市绿化中选择滞尘能力强的树种,并进行合理配置,是提高城市道路绿地滞尘效应的有效途径.