Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino
Abstract Background Sheep have demonstrated remarkable adaptability to diverse and unproductive pastures, making them highly advantageous in the context of sustainable farming practices in the globally warming world. Despite their adaptation skills, local sheep breeds generally exhibit low performan...
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2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04957-9 |
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| author | Yalçın Yaman Ramazan Aymaz Murat Keleş Yiğit Emir Kişi Ecem Hatipoğlu Arzu Özdemir Elif Çetinkaya |
| author_facet | Yalçın Yaman Ramazan Aymaz Murat Keleş Yiğit Emir Kişi Ecem Hatipoğlu Arzu Özdemir Elif Çetinkaya |
| author_sort | Yalçın Yaman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sheep have demonstrated remarkable adaptability to diverse and unproductive pastures, making them highly advantageous in the context of sustainable farming practices in the globally warming world. Despite their adaptation skills, local sheep breeds generally exhibit low performance, highlighting the need to develop desired traits. Traditional Mixed Linear Model (MLM)-based single-locus Genome-Wide Association (GWA) studies may fall short in identifying multiple loci influencing traits due to their linear genome scanning approach, rendering them less effective for detecting polygenic effects. Objectives To identify genetic variants associated with birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) in Karacabey Merino lambs using multi-locus genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches, and to propose candidate genes for these economically important growth traits. Methods Five multi-locus approaches were employed, including MrMLM, FastMrMLM, ISIS EM-BLASSO, FASTmrEMMA, pLARmEB, and pKWmEB. These methods utilize a two-stage process to detect associated markers, first screening with a single locus approach at a less strict significance threshold, followed by collective evaluation using multi-locus GWA models. Gene annotation was performed to identify candidate genes based on SNP locations within intron regions or within ± 100 Kb proximity of associated SNPs. Results Using the five multi-locus approaches, 11 SNPs were detected with significant effects on birth weight and seven SNPs on weaning weight in Karacabey merino lambs. Gene annotation revealed most associated SNPs were within or very close to protein-coding genes, suggesting a functional role in trait influence. The genes GNAQ, CDKL4, PIP, SLC7A1, PBRM1, SORCS3, and NFATC1 were identified as candidate genes for birth weight, while BABAM2, LALBA, NOP14, FAM110B, SKAP1, SVIL, and ATXN1 were proposed as candidate genes for weaning weight. Conclusion These insights contribute to a better understanding of the genetic makeup of birth weight and weaning weight traits, supporting efforts to refine breeding programs for improved growth performance in Karacabey merino sheep. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f501b7a783324fd2aa72b00341b1ce27 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-f501b7a783324fd2aa72b00341b1ce272025-08-20T04:02:54ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482025-08-0121111610.1186/s12917-025-04957-9Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey MerinoYalçın Yaman0Ramazan Aymaz1Murat Keleş2Yiğit Emir Kişi3Ecem Hatipoğlu4Arzu Özdemir5Elif Çetinkaya6Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Siirt UniversitySheep Research and Breeding InstituteSheep Research and Breeding InstituteSheep Research and Breeding InstituteInternational Center for Livestock Research and TrainingInternational Center for Livestock Research and TrainingFertilizer and Water Resources Central Research InstituteAbstract Background Sheep have demonstrated remarkable adaptability to diverse and unproductive pastures, making them highly advantageous in the context of sustainable farming practices in the globally warming world. Despite their adaptation skills, local sheep breeds generally exhibit low performance, highlighting the need to develop desired traits. Traditional Mixed Linear Model (MLM)-based single-locus Genome-Wide Association (GWA) studies may fall short in identifying multiple loci influencing traits due to their linear genome scanning approach, rendering them less effective for detecting polygenic effects. Objectives To identify genetic variants associated with birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) in Karacabey Merino lambs using multi-locus genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches, and to propose candidate genes for these economically important growth traits. Methods Five multi-locus approaches were employed, including MrMLM, FastMrMLM, ISIS EM-BLASSO, FASTmrEMMA, pLARmEB, and pKWmEB. These methods utilize a two-stage process to detect associated markers, first screening with a single locus approach at a less strict significance threshold, followed by collective evaluation using multi-locus GWA models. Gene annotation was performed to identify candidate genes based on SNP locations within intron regions or within ± 100 Kb proximity of associated SNPs. Results Using the five multi-locus approaches, 11 SNPs were detected with significant effects on birth weight and seven SNPs on weaning weight in Karacabey merino lambs. Gene annotation revealed most associated SNPs were within or very close to protein-coding genes, suggesting a functional role in trait influence. The genes GNAQ, CDKL4, PIP, SLC7A1, PBRM1, SORCS3, and NFATC1 were identified as candidate genes for birth weight, while BABAM2, LALBA, NOP14, FAM110B, SKAP1, SVIL, and ATXN1 were proposed as candidate genes for weaning weight. Conclusion These insights contribute to a better understanding of the genetic makeup of birth weight and weaning weight traits, supporting efforts to refine breeding programs for improved growth performance in Karacabey merino sheep. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04957-9Karacabey merinoMulti-locus GWASGrowth traitsBirth weightWeaning weight |
| spellingShingle | Yalçın Yaman Ramazan Aymaz Murat Keleş Yiğit Emir Kişi Ecem Hatipoğlu Arzu Özdemir Elif Çetinkaya Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino BMC Veterinary Research Karacabey merino Multi-locus GWAS Growth traits Birth weight Weaning weight |
| title | Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino |
| title_full | Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino |
| title_short | Investigation of growth traits in Turkish Merino lambs using multi-locus GWAS approaches: Karacabey Merino |
| title_sort | investigation of growth traits in turkish merino lambs using multi locus gwas approaches karacabey merino |
| topic | Karacabey merino Multi-locus GWAS Growth traits Birth weight Weaning weight |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04957-9 |
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