• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate a morphological trait in 294 rice accessions including Korean breeding lines. We also carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to detect significant single nucleotide polymorphism markers and candidate genes affecting major agronomic traits. A Manhattan plot analysis of GWAS using morphological traits showed that phenotypic and statistical significance was associated with a chromosome in each group. The significance of SNPs that were detected in this study was investigated by comparing them with those found previously studied QTL regions related to agronomic traits. As a result, SNP (S8-19815442), which is significant with regard to leaf angle, was located in the known QTL regions. To observe gene mutations related to leaf angle in a candidate gene, Os08g31950, its sequences were compared with sequences in previously selected rice varieties. In Os08g31950, a single nucleotide mutation occurred in one region. To compare relative RNA expression levels of candidate gene Os08g31950, obtained from GWAS analysis of 294 rice accessions and related to lateral leaf angle, we investigated relative levels by selecting 10 erect leaf angle varieties and 10 horizontal leaf angle varieties and examining real-time PCR. In Os08g31950, a high level of expression and various expression patterns were observed in all tissues. Also, Os08g31950 showed higher expression levels in the erect leaf angle variety group and higher expression rates in the leaf than in the root. The candidate gene detected through GWAS would be useful in developing new rice varieties with improved yield potential through future molecular breeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.462-469
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify genomic regions or genes controlling growth traits in pigs. Methods: Using a panel of 54,148 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we performed a genome-wide Association (GWA) study in 562 pure Yorshire pigs with four growth traits: average daily gain from 30 kg to 100 kg or 115 kg, and days to 100 kg or 115 kg. Fixed and random model Circulating Probability Unification method was used to identify the associations between 54,148 SNPs and these four traits. SNP annotations were performed through the Sus scrofa data set from Ensembl. Bioinformatics analysis, including gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis and network analysis, was used to identify the candidate genes. Results: We detected 6 significant and 12 suggestive SNPs, and identified 9 candidate genes in close proximity to them (suppressor of glucose by autophagy [SOGA1], R-Spondin 2 [RSPO2], mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 6 [MAP2K6], phospholipase C beta 1 [PLCB1], rho GTPASE activating protein 24 [ARHGAP24], cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 4 [CPEB4], GLI family zinc finger 2 [GLI2], neuronal tyrosine-phosphorylated phosphoinositide-3-kinase adaptor 2 [NYAP2], and zinc finger protein multitype 2 [ZFPM2]). Gene ontology analysis and literature mining indicated that the candidate genes are involved in bone, muscle, fat, and lung development. Pathway analysis revealed that PLCB1 and MAP2K6 participate in the gonadotropin signaling pathway and suggests that these two genes contribute to growth at the onset of puberty. Conclusion: Our results provide new clues for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying growth traits, and may help improve these traits in future breeding programs.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.108-115
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• 2010

Hypertension is the most prevalent disease worldwide and is itself a risk factor for cerebral, cardiac, and renal diseases. The inconsistency of candidate genes suggested by previous genomewide association studies (GWASs) may be due to not only differences in study design and genetic or environmental background but also the difference in the power of analysis between continuous traits and discrete traits. We analyzed 352,228 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 8842 unrelated Koreans obtained from Ansan and Ansung cohorts. We performed a series of GWA analyses using three different phenotype models; young hypertensive cases (278 subjects) versus elderly normotensive controls (680 subjects); the upper 25% (2211 hypertensive cases) versus the lower 25% of the SBP distribution (2211 hypotensive controls); and finally SBP and DBP as continuous traits (8842 subjects). The numbers of young hypertensive cases and elderly normotensive controls were not large enough to achieve genomewide significance. The model comparing the upper 25% subjects to the lower 25% of subjects showed a power that was approximate to that of QTL analysis. Two neighboring SNPs of the ATP2B1 gene, rs17249754 (SBP, p=$2.53^{-10}$; DBP, p=$1.28{\times}10^{-8}$) and rs7136259 (SBP, p=$1.30{\times}10^{-9}$; DBP, p=$6.41{\times}10^{-8}$), were associated with both SBP and DBP. Interestingly, a SNP of the RPL6 gene, rs11066280, revealed a significant genomewide association with SBP in men only (p=$3.85{\times}10^{-8}$), and four SNPs located near the MAN2A1 gene showed a strong association with DBP only in elderly men aged 60-70 years (e.g., rs6421827, p=$4.86{\times}10^{-8}$). However, we did not observe any gene variant attaining genomewide significance consistently in the three phenotype models except for the ATP2B1 gene variants. In general, the association signal with blood pressure was stronger in women than in men. Genes identified in GWASs are expected to open the way for prevention, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment of hypertension.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1249-1258
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• 2015

DGAT1(diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase1) gene is well known as a major gene of milk production in dairy cattle. This study was conducted to investigate how the DGAT1 gene effect on milk yield was appeared from the genome wide association (GWA) using high density whole genome SNP chip. The data set used in this study consisted of 353 Korean Holstein sires with 50k SNP genotypes and deregressed estimated breeding values of milk yield. After quality control 41,051 SNPs were selected and locations on chromosome were mapped using UMD 3.1. Bayesian regression of BayesB method (pi=0.99) was used to estimate the SNP effects and genomic breeding values. Percentages of variance explained by 1 Mb non-overlapping windows were calculated to detect the QTL region. As the result of this study, top 1 and 3 of 2,516 windows were seen around DGAT1 gene region and 0.51% and 0.48% of genetic variance were explained by these two windows. Although SNPs on the DGAT1 gene region are excluded in commercial 50k SNP chip, the effect of DGAT1 gene seem to be reflected on GWA by the SNPs which are in linkage disequilibrium with DGAT1 gene.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2023

Objective: In this study, we aimed to position the Hungarian Merino among other Merinoderived sheep breeds, explore the characteristics of our sampled animals' genetic similarity network within the breed, and highlight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with daily weight-gain. Methods: Hungarian Merino (n = 138) was genotyped on Ovine SNP50 Bead Chip (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) and positioned among 30 Merino and Merino-derived breeds (n = 555). Population characteristics were obtained via PLINK, SVS, Admixture, and Treemix software, within-breed network was analysed with python networkx 2.3 library. Daily weight gain of Hungarian Merino was standardised to 60 days and was collected from the database of the Association of Hungarian Sheep and Goat Breeders. For the identification of loci associated with daily weight gain, a multi-locus mixed-model was used. Results: Supporting the breed's written history, the closest breeds to Hungarian Merino were Estremadura and Rambouillet (pairwise F_ST values are 0.035 and 0.036, respectively). Among Hungarian Merino, a highly centralised connectedness has been revealed by network analysis of pairwise values of identity-by-state, where the animal in the central node had a betweenness centrality value equal to 0.936. Probing of daily weight gain against the SNP data of Hungarian Merinos revealed five associated loci. Two of them, OAR8_17854216.1 and s42441.1 on chromosome 8 and 9 (-log₁₀P>22, false discovery rate<5.5e-20) and one locus on chromosome 20, s28948.1 (-log₁₀P = 13.46, false discovery rate = 4.1e-11), were close to the markers reported in other breeds concerning daily weight gain, six-month weight, and post-weaning gain. Conclusion: The position of Hungarian Merino among other Merino breeds has been determined. We have described the similarity network of the individuals to be applied in breeding practices and highlighted several markers useful for elevating the daily weight gain of Hungarian Merino.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8051-8055
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• 2014

Background: A common genetic variant rs3757318, located in intron of C6orf97, was firstly identified to be associated with breast cancer (BC) risk by a genome-wide association (GWA) study. However, subsequent validation studies with different ethnicities have yielded conflicting results. Materials and Methods: We performed a meta-analysis to synthesize all available data for evaluating the precise effect of this variant on BC susceptibility. Results: A total of 8 articles containing 11 studies with 62,891 cases and 65,635 controls were included in this meta-analysis. When compared to the G allele, the rs3757318-A allele was significantly associated with BC risk with the pooled OR of 1.21 (95% CI=1.15 - 1.29, P<0.001) but with obvious between-study heterogeneity (P=0.040). Stratified analysis suggested that diversity of ethnicity along with control source may explain part of the heterogeneity. Similarly, significant associations were also identified in heterozygote, homozygote, dominant and recessive genetic models. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses indicated robust stability of our results. Conclusions: Our present meta-analysis demonstrated that the variant rs3757318 is associated with increased BC risk. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms.