Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?

Compared to the negative effect of directional selection on genetic diversity, balancing selection acts oppositely and maintains variability across the genome. This study aims to articulate whether balancing selection leads to heterozygosity-rich region islands (HRRIs) forming in the canine genome b...

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Main Authors: Adrián Halvoník, Nina Moravčíková, Luboš Vostrý, Hana Vostra-Vydrova, Gábor Mészáros, Eymen Demir, Monika Chalupková, Radovan Kasarda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/612
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author Adrián Halvoník
Nina Moravčíková
Luboš Vostrý
Hana Vostra-Vydrova
Gábor Mészáros
Eymen Demir
Monika Chalupková
Radovan Kasarda
author_facet Adrián Halvoník
Nina Moravčíková
Luboš Vostrý
Hana Vostra-Vydrova
Gábor Mészáros
Eymen Demir
Monika Chalupková
Radovan Kasarda
author_sort Adrián Halvoník
collection DOAJ
description Compared to the negative effect of directional selection on genetic diversity, balancing selection acts oppositely and maintains variability across the genome. This study aims to articulate whether balancing selection leads to heterozygosity-rich region islands (HRRIs) forming in the canine genome by investigating 1000 animals belonging to 50 dog breeds via 153,733 autosomal SNPs. A consecutive SNP-based approach was used to identify heterozygosity-rich regions (HRRs). Signals of balancing selection in the genome of studied breeds were then assessed with Tajima’s D statistics. A total of 72,062 HRRs with an average length of 324 kb were detected to be unevenly distributed across the genome. A total of 509 and 450 genomic regions were classified as HRRIs and balancing selection signals, respectively. Although the genome-wide distributions of HRRIs varied across breeds, several HRRIs were found in the same locations across multiple breeds. A total of 109 genomic regions were classified as both HRRIs and signals of balancing selection. Even though the genomic coordinates of HRRIs and balancing selection signals did not fully overlap across all genomic regions, balancing selection may play a significant role in maintaining diversity in regions associated with various cancer diseases, immune response, and bone, skin, and cartilage tissue development.
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spelling doaj-art-499846b2c2bc4d128c314208b71a58b42025-08-20T02:44:51ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115461210.3390/ani15040612Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?Adrián Halvoník0Nina Moravčíková1Luboš Vostrý2Hana Vostra-Vydrova3Gábor Mészáros4Eymen Demir5Monika Chalupková6Radovan Kasarda7Institute of Nutrition and Genomics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, SlovakiaInstitute of Nutrition and Genomics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Genetics and Breeding, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha-Suchdol, 165 00 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Genetics and Breeding, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha-Suchdol, 165 00 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Livestock Sciences, BOKU University, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07070, TürkiyeInstitute of Nutrition and Genomics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, SlovakiaInstitute of Nutrition and Genomics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, SlovakiaCompared to the negative effect of directional selection on genetic diversity, balancing selection acts oppositely and maintains variability across the genome. This study aims to articulate whether balancing selection leads to heterozygosity-rich region islands (HRRIs) forming in the canine genome by investigating 1000 animals belonging to 50 dog breeds via 153,733 autosomal SNPs. A consecutive SNP-based approach was used to identify heterozygosity-rich regions (HRRs). Signals of balancing selection in the genome of studied breeds were then assessed with Tajima’s D statistics. A total of 72,062 HRRs with an average length of 324 kb were detected to be unevenly distributed across the genome. A total of 509 and 450 genomic regions were classified as HRRIs and balancing selection signals, respectively. Although the genome-wide distributions of HRRIs varied across breeds, several HRRIs were found in the same locations across multiple breeds. A total of 109 genomic regions were classified as both HRRIs and signals of balancing selection. Even though the genomic coordinates of HRRIs and balancing selection signals did not fully overlap across all genomic regions, balancing selection may play a significant role in maintaining diversity in regions associated with various cancer diseases, immune response, and bone, skin, and cartilage tissue development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/612doggenetic diversityheterozygosityruns of homozygosity
spellingShingle Adrián Halvoník
Nina Moravčíková
Luboš Vostrý
Hana Vostra-Vydrova
Gábor Mészáros
Eymen Demir
Monika Chalupková
Radovan Kasarda
Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?
Animals
dog
genetic diversity
heterozygosity
runs of homozygosity
title Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?
title_full Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?
title_fullStr Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?
title_full_unstemmed Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?
title_short Heterozygosity-Rich Regions in Canine Genome: Can They Serve as Indicators of Balancing Selection?
title_sort heterozygosity rich regions in canine genome can they serve as indicators of balancing selection
topic dog
genetic diversity
heterozygosity
runs of homozygosity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/612
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