Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens

ABSTRACT: Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying egg production is crucial for improving laying performance in chickens. However, traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have not effectively utilized the information regarding the longitudinal trajectories and dynamics of egg-layi...

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Main Authors: Lizhi Tan, Ning Xu, Zexuan Liu, Xinyu Cai, Yuan Kong, Zilong Wen, Yuzhan Wang, Yiqiang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Poultry Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257912500522X
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author Lizhi Tan
Ning Xu
Zexuan Liu
Xinyu Cai
Yuan Kong
Zilong Wen
Yuzhan Wang
Yiqiang Zhao
author_facet Lizhi Tan
Ning Xu
Zexuan Liu
Xinyu Cai
Yuan Kong
Zilong Wen
Yuzhan Wang
Yiqiang Zhao
author_sort Lizhi Tan
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying egg production is crucial for improving laying performance in chickens. However, traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have not effectively utilized the information regarding the longitudinal trajectories and dynamics of egg-laying phenotype. In this study, based on individual egg production records over time, we first utilized the Yang-Ning model to characterize four egg production parameters. Our SNP-based GWAS on these parameters, along with three multidimensional GWAS models, captured different aspects of egg-laying dynamics. The novel significant associations and candidate genes identified, including C3, CADPS2, and TLN2, contribute significantly to egg-laying traits. By quantifying both direct and indirect effects of egg production parameters on egg number (EN) through the integration of Bayesian networks and structural equation modeling, we demonstrated that an earlier age at first egg directly promotes EN. The findings from this study enhance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in egg production and provide valuable insights for optimizing chicken breeding strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-b19dddf73e224f528e0537bbf1672af2
institution Kabale University
issn 0032-5791
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Poultry Science
spelling doaj-art-b19dddf73e224f528e0537bbf1672af22025-08-20T03:31:25ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-08-01104810528010.1016/j.psj.2025.105280Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickensLizhi Tan0Ning Xu1Zexuan Liu2Xinyu Cai3Yuan Kong4Zilong Wen5Yuzhan Wang6Yiqiang Zhao7State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 ChinaCollege of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 China; National Research Facility for Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Model Animals (Beijing), China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 China; National Research Facility for Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Model Animals (Beijing), China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Corresponding author: Yiqiang ZhaoABSTRACT: Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying egg production is crucial for improving laying performance in chickens. However, traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have not effectively utilized the information regarding the longitudinal trajectories and dynamics of egg-laying phenotype. In this study, based on individual egg production records over time, we first utilized the Yang-Ning model to characterize four egg production parameters. Our SNP-based GWAS on these parameters, along with three multidimensional GWAS models, captured different aspects of egg-laying dynamics. The novel significant associations and candidate genes identified, including C3, CADPS2, and TLN2, contribute significantly to egg-laying traits. By quantifying both direct and indirect effects of egg production parameters on egg number (EN) through the integration of Bayesian networks and structural equation modeling, we demonstrated that an earlier age at first egg directly promotes EN. The findings from this study enhance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in egg production and provide valuable insights for optimizing chicken breeding strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257912500522Xgenome-wide association studyegg productionlongitudinal phenotypeBayesian network
spellingShingle Lizhi Tan
Ning Xu
Zexuan Liu
Xinyu Cai
Yuan Kong
Zilong Wen
Yuzhan Wang
Yiqiang Zhao
Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
Poultry Science
genome-wide association study
egg production
longitudinal phenotype
Bayesian network
title Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
title_full Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
title_fullStr Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
title_full_unstemmed Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
title_short Genome-wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
title_sort genome wide association studies on longitudinal phenotypes reveal genetic mechanisms of egg production in chickens
topic genome-wide association study
egg production
longitudinal phenotype
Bayesian network
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257912500522X
work_keys_str_mv AT lizhitan genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT ningxu genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT zexuanliu genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT xinyucai genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT yuankong genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT zilongwen genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT yuzhanwang genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens
AT yiqiangzhao genomewideassociationstudiesonlongitudinalphenotypesrevealgeneticmechanismsofeggproductioninchickens