Genome wide association analysis for body measurements in Jabal Akhdar Omani goats

Abstract

The Jabal Akhdar goat, which represents 5% of the Omani goat population, inhabits the high-altitude regions of the Jabal Akhdar mountain range. This breed is renowned for its rapid growth, high twinning rate, and adaptability to extreme environmental conditions, including harsh temperatures. To investigate the genetic basis underlying its phenotypic traits, a genome-wide association study was conducted using SNP genotypes from 72 Jabal Akhdar female goats, obtained through the Illumina GoatSNP50 BeadChip. The study aimed to identify genetic associations with 14 distinct body size measurements: bicoastal diameter, rump width, cannon bone circumference, muzzle diameter, head girth, sternum height, rump height, head width, body depth, withers height, ear length, rump length, head length, and body length. From a total of 46,035 pruned SNPs, 51 were found to be significantly associated with various body measurements, excluding withers height, body length, head girth, and cannon bone circumference. A total of 90 candidate genes were identified within a 100 kb region of the significant SNPs, playing key roles in biological processes such as cell growth, early embryonic development, and muscle development. Some of these genes were involved in cell growth (ISM1), early brain development (ADK), and muscle development (ATP2A1). The findings of this study provide valuable insights for further research aimed at identifying causative variants and haplotypes linked to desirable traits in Jabal Akhdar goats. These discoveries could inform the development of genetically-driven breeding programs to conserve this indigenous breed and enhance its productivity.