• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.315-325
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• 2015

Recently, livestock breeding is more focused on the meat quality rather than meat quantity, mainly due to the improvement of consumers' income. Among the meat quality traits, meat color is one of very important traits because meat color is the first selection criterion from the consumers in the market. Most of the economically important traits have continuous variations and these are called quantitative traits. the genomic locations affecting these traits are called quantitative trait locus (QTL), which is mostly controlled by many genes having small effects. In this study, the recent QTL and candidate gene studies were reviewed in order to meet the consumers' demand for the future market. In the chicken QTL database, three traits are related with meat colors, namely breast color (Bco), meat color (Mco), drip loss (DL) and pH. The identified number of QTLs is 33 from 13 chromosomal regions. In these QTL regions, 14 candidate genes were identified; Eight for meat color (APP, BCMO1, COL1A2, FTO, KPNA2, PSMD12, G0S2, FTSJ3), two for drip loss (AGRP, FTO) and four for pH (GALNT1, PCDH19, DIAPH1, SPP2). These QTLs and candidate genes need to be confirmed and fine mapping is ultimately needed for identification of causative variations. The recently developed chicken resource population using Korean native chicken can be used for the improvement of meat quality traits, which increase the value that needed in the chicken industry.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2020

Association mapping is widely used in rice and other crops to identify genes underlying important agronomic traits. Most association mapping studies use diversity panels comprising accessions with various geographical origins to exploit their wide genetic variation. While locally adapted breeding lines are rarely used in association mapping owing to limited genetic diversity, genes/alleles identified from elite germplasm are practically valuable as they can be directly utilized in breeding programs. In this study, we analyzed genetic diversity of 179 rice varieties (161 japonica and 18 Tongil-type) released in Korea from 1970 to 2006 using 192 microsatellite markers evenly distributed across the genome. The 161 japonica rice varieties were genetically very close to each other with limited diversity as they were developed mainly through elite-by-elite crosses to meet the specific local demands for high quality japonica rice in Korea. Despite the narrow genetic background, abundant phenotypic variation was observed in heading time, culm length, and amylose and protein content in the 161 japonica rice varieties. Using these varieties in association mapping, we identified six, seven, ten, and four loci significantly associated with heading time, culm length, and amylose and protein content, respectively. The sums of allelic effects of these loci showed highly significant positive correlation with the observed phenotypic values for each trait, indicating that the allelic variation at these loci can be useful when designing cross combinations and predicting progeny performance in local breeding programs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2020

High blood pressure (HTN) is a condition in which blood pressure is kept higher than normal. Blood pressure trait measures systolic blood pressure (SBP) which is the highest pressure and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) which is the lowest blood pressure. Pulse pressure (PP) is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Hypertension is known as a disease caused by the interaction of the environment and genetic factors. To date, studies have been conducted to find genes associated with hypertension. Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) analysis using European data from the UK Biobank reported new 535 loci were associated with blood pressure trait. Among them, 12 genes have been reported to have a significant correlation with SBP, DBP and PP. In the study, 12 genes polymorphisms were extracted based on KARE (Korean association resource) and then we performed linear regression of blood pressure trait. As a result, 6 SNPs of the 3 genes (rs12355413 and rs11006736 of ARMC4, rs2290883, rs2290884 and rs11039014 of LRP4, rs7234941 of BCL2) showed statistically significant correlation (P<0.05) with blood pressure trait. Of the 3 genes, 6 SNPs in 2 genes (rs9651357, rs12355413, rs11006736, rs1889522 of ARMC4 and rs4987774, rs7234941 of BCL2) showed significant correlation with hypertension. These results suggest that genetic polymorphisms of ARMC4, LRP4 and BCL2 genes are associated with blood pressure traits and hypertension in Korean population. Moreover, we expected to help understand the pathogenesis of hypertension.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1210-1213
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• 2004

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping can be applied to detect chromosomal locations that control economic traits in farm animals. Teat number has been considered as one of the most important factors to evaluate mothering ability of sow. Especially, teat number is more important when the number is less than the litter size. This study was conducted to identify QTL affecting teat number in the Korean native pig${\times}$Landrace resource family. A total of 240 animals was genotyped for 132 polymorphic microsatellites covering the 18 pig autosomes. Mean and standard deviation of teat number in $F_2$animals is 13.46${\pm}$1.40. QTL was analyzed using F2 QTL Analysis Servlet of QTL express. A QTL for teat number on SSC9 was significant at the 1% chromosome-wide level and three suggestive QTL were detected on SSC3, 7 and 14. All QTL detected in this study had additive effect and Landrace alleles were associated with higher teat number in comparison with Korean native pig for three of four QTL.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.287-291
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for growth and carcass quality traits on BTA6 in a population of Hanwoo cattle. Three hundred and sixty one steers were produced from 39 sires that were sired by 17 grandsires in the two Hanwoo farming branches of the National Livestock Research Institute of Korea, between Spring 2000 and Fall 2002. DNA samples were collected for all of the steers, sires and grandsires, and the phenotypes for six growth and carcass quality traits were measured at 24 months of age. Twelve microsatellite markers were chosen on BTA6 and a linkage map was constructed by using seven of the twelve markers. Then, a chromosome-wide QTL scan was performed by applying an Animal Model, in which effects of QTL alleles within the grand sires were fitted as a random term. Three QTL were detected at the 5% chromosome-wise level for backfat thickness, average daily gain, and final weight. The most likely positions for the QTL were in the proximal region, i.e. 0 cM, 35 cM, and 63 cM, respectively. Also, another QTL for longissimus dorsi muscle area was detected at the 10% chromosome-wise level at 67 cM. These results were, in general, consistent with our previous report, in which candidate gene analyses showed that a SNP near ILSTS035 flanked by BM4621 (62.5 cM) and BMS2460 (81.3 cM) was associated with final weight, carcass weight, average daily gain, and longissimus dorsi muscle area in the same Hanwoo population.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.696-703
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• 2020

Objective: Cattle were some of the first animals domesticated by humans for the production of milk, meat, etc. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is defined as longer than 200 bp in nonprotein coding transcripts. lncRNA is known to function in regulating gene expression and is currently being studied in a variety of livestock including cattle. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of lncRNA according to sex in Hanwoo cattle. Methods: This study was conducted using the skeletal muscles of 9 Hanwoo cattle include bulls, steers and cows. RNA was extracted from skeletal muscle of Hanwoo. Sequencing was conducted using Illumina HiSeq2000 and mapped to the Bovine Taurus genome. The expression levels of lncRNAs were measured by DEGseq and quantitative trait loci (QTL) data base was used to identify QTLs associated with lncRNA. The python script was used to match the nearby genes Results: In this study, the expression patterns of transcripts of bulls, steers and cows were identified. And we identified significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs in bulls, steers and cows. In addition, characteristics of lncRNA which express differentially in muscles according to the sex of Hanwoo were identified. As a result, we found differentially expressed lncRNAs according to sex were related to shear force and body weight. Conclusion: This study was classified and characterized lncRNA which differentially expressed by sex in Hanwoo cattle. We believe that the characterization of lncRNA by sex of Hanwoo will be helpful for future studies of the physiological mechanisms of Hanwoo cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1087-1092
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• 2003

As an experimental reference population, crosses between Korean native pig and Landraces were established and information on growth traits was recorded. Animals were genotyped for 24 microsatellite markers covering chromosomes 2, 6, and 7 for partial-genome scan to identify chromosomal regions that have effects on growth traits. quantitative trait loci (QTL) effects were estimated using interval mapping by the regression method under the line cross models with a test for imprinting effects. For test of presence of QTL, chromosome-wide and single position significance thresholds were estimated by permutation test and normal significance threshold for the imprinting test were derived. For tests against the Mendelian model, additive and dominance coefficients were permuted within individuals. Thresholds (5% chromosome-wide) against the no-QTL model for the analyzed traits ranged from 4.57 to 4.99 for the Mendelian model and from 4.14 to 4.67 for the imprinting model, respectively. Partial-genome scan revealed significant evidence for 4 QTL affecting growth traits, and 2 out of the 4 QTLs were imprinted. This study demonstrated that testing for imprinting should become a standard procedure to unravel the genetic control of multi-factorial traits. The models and tests developed in this study allowed the detection and evaluation of imprinted QTL.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1559-1571
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• 2008

A rule was developed to constrain the annual rate of inbreeding to a predefined value in a population with different lifetimes between sires and dams, and to maximize the selection response over generations. This rule considers that the animals in a population should be divided into sex-age classes based on the theory of gene flow, and restricts the increase of average inbreeding coefficient for new offspring by limiting the increase of the mean additive genetic relationship for parents selected. The optimization problem of this rule was formulated as a quadratic programming problem. Inputs for the rule were the BLUP estimated breeding values, the additive genetic relationship matrix of all animals, and the long-term contributions of sex-age classes. Outputs were optimal number and contributions of selected animals. In addition, this rule was combined with the optimization of emphasis given to QTL, and further increased the genetic gain over the planning horizon. Stochastic simulations of closed nucleus schemes for pigs were used to investigate the potential advantages obtained from this rule by combining the standard QTL selection, optimal QTL selection and conventional BLUP selection. Results showed that the predefined rates of inbreeding were actually achieved by this rule in three selection strategies. The rule obtained up to 9.23% extra genetic gain over truncation selection at the same rates of inbreeding. The combination of the extended rule and the optimization of emphasis given to QTL allowed substantial increases in selection response at a fixed annual rate of inbreeding, and solved substantially the conflict between short-term and long-term selection response in QTL-assisted selection schemes.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.576-590
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify genes associated with 305-day milk yield (MY) and fat yield (FY) that also influence the adaptability of the Thai multibreed dairy cattle population to tropical conditions. Methods: A total of 75,776 imputed and actual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 2,661 animals were used to identify genomic regions associated with MY and FY using the single-step genomic best linear unbiased predictions. Fixed effects included herd-year-season, breed regression, heterosis regression and calving age regression effects. Random effects were animal additive genetic and residual. Individual SNPs with a p-value smaller than 0.05 were selected for gene mapping, function analysis, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) annotation analysis. Results: A substantial number of QTLs associated with MY (9,334) and FY (8,977) were identified by integrating SNP genotypes and QTL annotations. Notably, we discovered 17 annotated QTLs within the health and exterior QTL classes, corresponding to nine unique genes. Among these genes, Rho GTPase activating protein 15 (ARHGAP15) and catenin alpha 2 (CTNNA2) have previously been linked to physiological traits associated with tropical adaptation in various cattle breeds. Interestingly, these two genes also showed signs of positive selection, indicating their potential role in conferring tolerance to trypanosomiasis, a prevalent tropical disease. Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of MY and FY in the Thai multibreed dairy cattle population, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of tropical adaptation. The identified genes represent promising targets for future breeding strategies aimed at improving milk and fat production while ensuring resilience to tropical challenges. This study significantly contributes to our understanding of the genetic factors influencing milk production and adaptability in dairy cattle, facilitating the development of sustainable genetic selection strategies and breeding programs in tropical environments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2019

Objective: Internal organs indirectly affect economic performance and well-being of animals. Study of internal organs during later layer period will allow full utilization of layer hens. Hence, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify potential quantitative trait loci or genes that potentially contribute to internal organ weight. Methods: A total of 1,512 chickens originating from White Leghorn and Dongxiang Blue-Shelled chickens were genotyped using high-density Affymetrix 600 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. We conducted a GWAS, linkage disequilibrium analysis, and heritability estimated based on SNP information by using GEMMA, Haploview and GCTA software. Results: Our results displayed that internal organ weights show moderate to high (0.283 to 0.640) heritability. Variance partitioned across chromosomes and chromosome lengths had a linear relationship for liver weight and gizzard weight ($R^2=0.493$, 0.753). A total of 23 highly significant SNPs that associated with all internal organ weights were mainly located on Gallus gallus autosome (GGA) 1 and GGA4. Six SNPs on GGA2 affected heart weight. After the final analysis, five top SNPs were in or near genes 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A, general transcription factor IIF polypeptide 2, WD repeat and FYVE domain containing 2, non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G, and sonic hedgehog, which were considered as candidate genes having a pervasive role in internal organ weights. Conclusion: Our findings provide an understanding of the underlying genetic architecture of internal organs and are beneficial in the selection of chickens.