Signatures of Selection in Indigenous Chinese Cattle Genomes Reveal Adaptive Genes and Genetic Variations to Cold Climate
Open accessAbstract
Cold climate shapes the genome of animals and drives them to carry sufficient genetic variations to adapt to changes in temperature. However, limited information is available about the genome-wide pattern of adaptations to cold environments in cattle. In the present study, we used 777K SNP genotyping (15 Chinese cattle breeds, 198 individuals) and whole genome resequencing data (54 cattle breeds of the world, 432 individuals) to disentangle divergent selection signatures, especially between the cold-adapted (annual average temperature of habitat, 6.24 °C to 10.3 °C) and heat-adapted (20.2 °C to 24.73 °C) Chinese native cattle breeds. Genomic analyses revealed a set of candidate genes (e.g., UQCR11, DNAJC18, EGR1, and STING1) were functionally associated with thermogenesis and energy metabolism. We also characterized the adaptive loci of cattle exposed to cold temperatures. Our study finds new candidate genes and provides new insights into adaptations to cold climates in cattle.
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In another study, genes related to adipose tissue thermogenesis (EGR1, STING1), cold stress (DNAJC18, which is also under selection in African zebu cattle [99]), and oxidative phosphorylation (UQCR11) were identified as candidate genes in northern Chinese cattle.
“In another study, genes related to adipose tissue thermogenesis (EGR1, STING1), cold stress (DNAJC18, which is also under selection in African zebu cattle [99]), and oxidative phosphorylation (UQCR11) were identified as candidate genes in northern Chinese cattle [94].”
From The Genomic Landscape of Cattle: Domestication, Dispersal, and Adaptive Evolution (2026) · cites this paper as [94]
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- Authors
- Huang, N., Zhao, L., Wang, J., Jiang, Q., Ju, Z., Wang, X., Yang, C., Gao, Y., Wei, X., Zhang, Y., Xiao, Y., Liu, W., Lu, S., & Huang, J.
- Affiliations
- Yunnan Agricultural University (CN)
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Huang, Jinming
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Animal Science
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2023-01-01
- Volume
- 101
- ISSN
- 0021-8812 (ISSN-L)
- 1525-3163
- PMC
- PMC9985157
- OpenAlex
- W4313729357
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8
- FWCI
- 4.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Animal Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (32102502)
- Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000703)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Keywords
- divergent selection, cold adaptation, heat adaptation, cattle genome, thermogenesis, energy metabolism, candidate genes, EGR1, STING, adaptive loci, cold climate
- MeSH terms
- Acclimatization, Animals, Cattle, Cold Climate, Selection, Genetic, Genetic Variation, Genome, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Genomics
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