Cracking the genetic code for complex traits in cattle
Global genomic study accurately maps height in cattle, humans and dogs
- Date:
- February 20, 2018
- Source:
- University of Queensland
- Summary:
- The global 1000 Bull Genomes Consortium identified the genetic basis for accurately predicting the complex trait of height across cattle and dairy breeds by pooling large genomic datasets and phenotypes collected from 58,000 cattle. The team validated their findings using the DNA of a wild auroch, the ancient ancestor to all cattle and dairy breeds, and, in a world first, demonstrated the genes influencing height in cattle also influence the trait in humans and dogs.
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A massive global study involving 58,000 cattle has pinpointed the genes that influence the complex genetic trait of height in cattle, opening the door for researchers to use the same approach to map high-value traits including those important for beef and milk production.
The University of Queensland's Professor Ben Hayes, who heads the global 1000 Bull Genomes Consortium of 57 researchers from 30 institutes, said it had previously been a major challenge to identify variants in the genome affecting complex traits, due to variations within multiple genes and to behavioural and environmental factors.
"To overcome this issue, the consortium pooled large genomic datasets and phenotypes collected from 58,000 cattle around the world to gain the clearest picture so far of their genetics," Professor Hayes said.
"We needed access to vast resources of data in order to demonstrate that the genes affecting a complex trait like height can be accurately identified.
"By applying the same collaborative big data approach, it may now possible to identify genes associated with high-value complex traits that are really important to the industry, such as beef and milk production, feed efficiency and reduced methane emissions."
The 1000 Bull Genomes Consortium's findings on height were confirmed by analysing the genetic material of miniature cattle and the DNA sequenced from a 6500-year-old wild auroch bone.
"Aurochs are an extinct species of large wild ox -- which were domesticated by ancient humans about 10,000 years ago and bred to be shorter -- and are the ancestor to all cattle breeds," Professor Hayes said.
"From analysing the DNA of this animal, we could predict its height, and then verify our prediction with the fossil records of auroch skeletons."
"On the other hand, the miniature cattle were predicted to be quite small based on their DNA and the genes we pinpointed in the study, validating our discoveries."
When the team applied its findings to the genetic datasets collected for humans and dogs, they were surprised to find that there was a high degree of overlap.
"The same genes influencing height in cattle also influence the trait in other mammalian species," Professor Hayes said. "This is something that has never been demonstrated before.
"It opens up the possibility for researchers working in cattle and human genomics to share data on traits such as temperament and body fatness."
The research is published in Nature Genetics.
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Materials provided by University of Queensland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Aniek C. Bouwman, Hans D. Daetwyler, Amanda J. Chamberlain, Carla Hurtado Ponce, Mehdi Sargolzaei, Flavio S. Schenkel, Goutam Sahana, Armelle Govignon-Gion, Simon Boitard, Marlies Dolezal, Hubert Pausch, Rasmus F. Brøndum, Phil J. Bowman, Bo Thomsen, Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Mogens S. Lund, Bertrand Servin, Dorian J. Garrick, James Reecy, Johanna Vilkki, Alessandro Bagnato, Min Wang, Jesse L. Hoff, Robert D. Schnabel, Jeremy F. Taylor, Anna A. E. Vinkhuyzen, Frank Panitz, Christian Bendixen, Lars-Erik Holm, Birgit Gredler, Chris Hozé, Mekki Boussaha, Marie-Pierre Sanchez, Dominique Rocha, Aurelien Capitan, Thierry Tribout, Anne Barbat, Pascal Croiseau, Cord Drögemüller, Vidhya Jagannathan, Christy Vander Jagt, John J. Crowley, Anna Bieber, Deirdre C. Purfield, Donagh P. Berry, Reiner Emmerling, Kay-Uwe Götz, Mirjam Frischknecht, Ingolf Russ, Johann Sölkner, Curtis P. Van Tassell, Ruedi Fries, Paul Stothard, Roel F. Veerkamp, Didier Boichard, Mike E. Goddard, Ben J. Hayes. Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for cattle stature identifies common genes that regulate body size in mammals. Nature Genetics, 2018; DOI: 10.1038/s41588-018-0056-5
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