Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review

This review examines the genetic basis of meat production phenotypic traits in sheep, addressing the challenge of enhancing carcass and meat quality to meet global demand. The article identifies key potential genes associated with vertebral traits, body size, muscle development, and fat deposition a...

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Main Authors: Ying Han, Muhammad Faheem Akhtar, Wenting Chen, Xiaotong Liu, Mingyue Zhao, Limeng Shi, Muhammad Zahoor Khan, Changfa Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1616533/full
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author Ying Han
Muhammad Faheem Akhtar
Wenting Chen
Xiaotong Liu
Mingyue Zhao
Limeng Shi
Muhammad Zahoor Khan
Changfa Wang
author_facet Ying Han
Muhammad Faheem Akhtar
Wenting Chen
Xiaotong Liu
Mingyue Zhao
Limeng Shi
Muhammad Zahoor Khan
Changfa Wang
author_sort Ying Han
collection DOAJ
description This review examines the genetic basis of meat production phenotypic traits in sheep, addressing the challenge of enhancing carcass and meat quality to meet global demand. The article identifies key potential genes associated with vertebral traits, body size, muscle development, and fat deposition across diverse sheep breeds worldwide. Through comprehensive analysis of recent literature (2018–2025), the study synthesizes findings from genome-wide association studies, candidate gene approaches, and transcriptomic analyses. Specific potential genes like VRTN, NR6A1, MSTN, ADIPOQ, LCORL, MEF2B, FASN, FABP4, SCD, DGAT1, BMP and HOX family genes demonstrate significant associations with economically valuable traits. The potential genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits (intramuscular fat contents, growth, vertebral traits and body size traits) have been highlighted in this review. This comprehensive genetic marker catalog serves as a critical resource repository for implementing marker-assisted selection programs, providing breeders and researchers with validated genetic targets to accelerate breeding efficiency and enhance meat production in sheep worldwide.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Veterinary Science
spelling doaj-art-70d247fd8640429fb315d35bd482dad22025-08-20T02:39:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-07-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16165331616533Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a reviewYing HanMuhammad Faheem AkhtarWenting ChenXiaotong LiuMingyue ZhaoLimeng ShiMuhammad Zahoor KhanChangfa WangThis review examines the genetic basis of meat production phenotypic traits in sheep, addressing the challenge of enhancing carcass and meat quality to meet global demand. The article identifies key potential genes associated with vertebral traits, body size, muscle development, and fat deposition across diverse sheep breeds worldwide. Through comprehensive analysis of recent literature (2018–2025), the study synthesizes findings from genome-wide association studies, candidate gene approaches, and transcriptomic analyses. Specific potential genes like VRTN, NR6A1, MSTN, ADIPOQ, LCORL, MEF2B, FASN, FABP4, SCD, DGAT1, BMP and HOX family genes demonstrate significant associations with economically valuable traits. The potential genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits (intramuscular fat contents, growth, vertebral traits and body size traits) have been highlighted in this review. This comprehensive genetic marker catalog serves as a critical resource repository for implementing marker-assisted selection programs, providing breeders and researchers with validated genetic targets to accelerate breeding efficiency and enhance meat production in sheep worldwide.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1616533/fullmeat productioncarcass weightvertebral traitssmall ruminantsgenetic markers
spellingShingle Ying Han
Muhammad Faheem Akhtar
Wenting Chen
Xiaotong Liu
Mingyue Zhao
Limeng Shi
Muhammad Zahoor Khan
Changfa Wang
Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
meat production
carcass weight
vertebral traits
small ruminants
genetic markers
title Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review
title_full Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review
title_fullStr Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review
title_full_unstemmed Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review
title_short Potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep: a review
title_sort potential candidate genes influencing meat production phenotypic traits in sheep a review
topic meat production
carcass weight
vertebral traits
small ruminants
genetic markers
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1616533/full
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