绵羊体重性状全基因组关联分析

Genome-wide Association Studies for Body Weight Traits in Sheep

Motivated by mining major candidate genes across Ovine genome, the present study is to perform genome-wide association studies(GWAS) to detect genes associated with body weight traits. Using Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip, we performed a GWA study in 329 purebred sheep phenotyped for 6 body weight traits(birth weight, weaning weight, 6-month weight, pre-weaning gain, post-weaning gain, daily weight gain). Statistics and data analysis were based on TASSEL program，mixed linear model and the latest Ovis_aries_v3.1 genome sequence (released October 2012). The results indicated that 10 SNPs consistently reached genome-wise significant level for post-weaning gain and 22 SNPs reached chromosome-wise significant level for other body weight traits. The SNPs were within (MEF2B,RFXANK，et al) or close to some ovine genes, which were thought to be the most important candidate genes associated with body weight traits. The results will contribute to identify candidate genes for ovine body weight traits, and facilitate the potential utilization of genes involved production traits in sheep in future.