G-Quadruplex and DNAzyme dual-driven DNA detection system for real-time quantitative detection of environmental lead ions.

Lead is a major heavy metal pollutant resulting from industrial activities, such as mining and battery manufacturing. Residual Pb ions pose serious health risks, highlighting the need for accurate monitoring to ensure environmental safety. Although traditional methods, such as inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), are reliable, they require costly equipment, skilled operators, and are time-consuming, making them impractical for rapid field detection.

A high-quality assembly revealing the PMEL gene for the unique plumage phenotype in Liancheng ducks.

Background: Plumage coloration is a distinctive trait in ducks, and the Liancheng duck, characterized by its white plumage and black beak and webbed feet, serves as an excellent subject for such studies. However, academic comprehension of the genetic mechanisms underlying duck plumage coloration remains limited. To this end, the Liancheng duck genome (GCA_039998735.

Identification of SNPs and INDELS associated with duck egg quality traits through a genome-wide association analysis.

Egg quality traits are economically important in the poultry industry. To explore the genetic architecture and identify potential candidate genes, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed for 13 egg quality traits using data from whole-genome sequencing of 299 Longyan Shan-ma female ducks, including 12 quantitative traits and one qualitative trait, eggshell color (ESC; white, light green, green). From estimation of pedigree genetic parameters, heritability (h) ranged from 0.

Unique feather color characteristics and transcriptome analysis of hair follicles in Liancheng White ducks.

Avian feather color is a fascinating trait, and the genetic mechanism of duck plumage formation is still in the preliminary stage. In this study, feather color of Liancheng White ducks was analyzed by determination of melanin content and RNA-seq analysis. In this research, 9 ducks from Mallards (n = 3), Liancheng White (n = 3) and Pekin ducks (n = 3) were used by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Masson-Fontana staining to reveal the difference of feather melanin content.

Changes in physical architecture and lipids compounds in skeletal muscle from Pekin duck and Liancheng white duck.

As a complex food, meat displays various biochemical properties that are determined to a great extent by physical architecture and lipid metabolites. Pekin duck and Liancheng white duck are elite breeds with distinct characteristics. Here, we explored the development of the muscle fibers from embryonic stage to 10-wk after birth, and muscle fibers grow slowly after 8-wk.

Engineered DNA molecular machine for ultrasensitive detection of environmental lead pollution.

Dynamic monitoring of environmental Pb is of utmost importance for food safety and personal well-being. Herein, we report a novel, rapid, and practical fluorescence detection platform for Pb. The platform comprises two essential components: an engineered DNAzyme probe (EDP) and a responsive functionalized probe (RFP).

Metabolome-Based Genome-Wide Association Study of Duck Meat Leads to Novel Genetic and Biochemical Insights.

Meat is among the most consumed foods worldwide and has a unique flavor and high nutrient density in the human diet. However, the genetic and biochemical bases of meat nutrition and flavor are poorly understood. Here, 3431 metabolites and 702 volatiles in 423 skeletal muscle samples are profiled from a gradient consanguinity segregating population generated by Pekin duck × Liancheng duck crosses using metabolomic approaches.

Genome-wide association studies demonstrate the genes associated with perimysial thickness in ducks.

The thickness of the perimysium has an essential effect on the tenderness of the meat. However, the genetic basis underlying perimysial thickness has not been determined. The objective of this study was to explore the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence perimysial thickness in an F segregating population generated by Mallard × Pekin duck using the genome-wide association study (GWAS) method.

Identification and genetic analysis of major gene ST3GAL4 related to serum alkaline phosphatase in chicken.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a marker of osteoblast maturation and an important indicator of bone metabolism. The activity of ALP can reflect the bone metabolism and growth traits of animals, so the polymorphism affecting ALP expression deserves further study. In this study, we identified an SNP site in ST3GAL4 found by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in previous studies, 8 SNPs were also identified by DNA sequencing.

Genome-wide association study reveals the genetic determinism of serum biochemical indicators in ducks.

Background: The serum is rich in nutrients and plays an essential role in electrolyte and acid-base balance, maintaining cellular homeostasis. In addition, serum parameters have been commonly used as essential biomarkers for clinical diagnosis. However, little is known about the genetic mechanism of the serum parameters in ducks.

Genome-wide association study identifies SNPs for growth performance and serum indicators in Valgus-varus deformity broilers (Gallus gallus) using ddGBS sequencing.

Background: Valgus-varus deformity (VVD) is a lateral or middle deviation of the tibiotarsus or tarsometatarsus, which is associated with compromised growth, worse bone quality and abnormal changes in serum indicators in broilers. To investigate the genetic basis of VVD, a genome wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify candidate genes and pathways that are responsible for VVD leg disease, serum indicators and growth performance in broilers.

Results: In total, VVD phenotype, seven serum indicators and three growth traits were measured for 126 VVD broilers (case group) and 122 sound broilers (control group) based on a high throughput genome wide genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method.

Identification of key miRNAs affecting broilers with valgus-varus deformity by RNA sequencing and analysis of miRNA-mRNA interactions.

Valgus-varus Deformity (VVD) leg disease often affects chickens raised in modern large-scale breeding operations. Losses due to VVD are costly to farmers, and the condition also causes significant suffering in affected birds. In this study, we profiled RNAs from the spleens of VVD (BS) and healthy (JS) broilers using high-throughput sequencing to identify miRNAs that might be involved in the development of the disease.

Integrative analysis of long non-coding RNA and mRNA in broilers with valgus-varus deformity.

Background: Bone abnormality and leg disease in commercial broiler flocks are increasingly prominent, causing serious economic losses to the broiler breeding industry. Valgus-varus deformity (VVD) is a common deformity of the long bone in broilers that manifests as an outward or inward deviation of the tibiotarsus or tarsometatarsus. There is a paucity of studies on the molecular mechanisms of VVD.

High-throughput transcriptome analysis reveals potentially important relationships between lncRNAs and genes in broilers affected by Valgus-varus Deformity (Gallus gallus).

Valgus-varus Deformity (VVD) is an outward or inward deviation of the tibiotarsus or tarsometatarsus, which results in physical distress of chickens and economic loss in poultry industry. While the etiology and pathogenesis of VVD at the molecular level are still not fully understood so far. Here, based on a case/control design with VVD birds and normal birds, we identified genes and lncRNAs which associated with VVD using RNA sequencing.

Association of a new 99-bp indel of the CEL gene promoter region with phenotypic traits in chickens.

Carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) encodes a cholesterol ester hydrolase that is secreted into the duodenum as a component of pancreatic juice. The objective of this study was to characterize the CEL gene, investigate the association between the CEL promoter variants and chicken phenotypic traits, and explore the CEL gene regulatory mechanism. An insertion/deletion (indel) caused by a 99-bp insertion fragment was shown for the first time in the chicken CEL promoter, and large differences in allelic frequency were found among commercial breeds, indigenous and feral birds.

Clinical assessment of growth performance, bone morphometry, bone quality, and serum indicators in broilers affected by valgus-varus deformity.

The large economic losses caused by leg disorders have raised concerns in the broiler industry. Several types of leg disorders in broilers have been identified, such as tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), femoral head necrosis (FHN), and valgus-varus deformity (VVD). In this study, phenotypic changes associated with VVD were examined using clinical diagnosis, anatomical examination, measured growth performance, bone traits, and serum indicators.