TMT-based quantitative proteomics reveals the genetic mechanisms of secondary hair follicle development in fine-wool sheep.

The development of secondary hair follicles influences the quality of sheep wool. However, the mechanism by which proteins mediate the fetal development of secondary hair follicles remains unknown. In this study, the histomorphology of secondary hair follicles was analyzed over four stages of fetal development (75, 85, 95, and 105 gestational days).

Genome-wide comparative analysis reveals selection signatures for reproduction traits in prolific Suffolk sheep.

The identification of genome-wide selection signatures can reveal the potential genetic mechanisms involved in the generation of new breeds through natural or artificial selection. In this study, we screened the genome-wide selection signatures of prolific Suffolk sheep, a new strain of multiparous mutton sheep, to identify candidate genes for reproduction traits and unravel the germplasm characteristics and population genetic evolution of this new strain of Suffolk sheep. Whole-genome resequencing was performed at an effective sequencing depth of 20× for genomic diversity and population structure analysis.

Whole-genome resequencing of the native sheep provides insights into the microevolution and identifies genes associated with reproduction traits.

Background: Sheep genomes undergo numerous genes losses, gains and mutation that generates genome variability among breeds of the same species after long time natural and artificial selection. However, the microevolution of native sheep in northwest China remains elusive. Our aim was to compare the genomes and relevant reproductive traits of four sheep breeds from different climatic environments, to unveil the selection challenges that this species cope with, and the microevolutionary differences in sheep genomes.

Unconditional and conditional analysis of epistasis between tillering QTLs based on single segment substitution lines in rice.

Epistasis plays an important role in manipulating rice tiller number, but epistatic mechanism still remains a challenge. Here we showed the process of epistatic analysis between tillering QTLs. A half diallel mating scheme was conducted based on 6 single segment substitution lines and 9 dual segment pyramiding lines to allow the analysis of 4 epistatic components.