CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 87Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestockGenetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and AnimalsAnimal Genetics and Reproduction

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 360 of the 362 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Genetics of the phenotypic evolution in sheep: a molecular look at diversity-driving genes

Open access
Kalds, Peter, Zhou, Shiwei, Gao, Yawei, Cai, Bei, Huang, Shuhong, Chen, Yulin, Wang, Xiaolong·2022·Genetics Selection Evolution
DOI 10.1186/s12711-022-00753-3PMC PMC9463822
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Background: After domestication, the evolution of phenotypically-varied sheep breeds has generated rich biodiversity. This wide phenotypic variation arises as a result of hidden genomic changes that range from a single nucleotide to several thousands of nucleotides. Thus, it is of interest and significance to reveal and understand the genomic changes underlying the phenotypic variation of sheep breeds in order to drive selection towards economically important traits. Review: Various traits contribute to the emergence of variation in sheep phenotypic characteristics, including coat color, horns, tail, wool, ears, udder, vertebrae, among others. The genes that determine most of these phenotypic traits have been investigated, which has generated knowledge regarding the genetic determinism of several agriculturally-relevant traits in sheep. In this review, we discuss the genomic knowledge that has emerged in the past few decades regarding the phenotypic traits in sheep, and our ultimate aim is to encourage its practical application in sheep breeding. In addition, in order to expand the current understanding of the sheep genome, we shed light on research gaps that require further investigation. Conclusions: Although significant research efforts have been conducted in the past few decades, several aspects of the sheep genome remain unexplored. For the full utilization of the current knowledge of the sheep genome, a wide practical application is still required in order to boost sheep productive performance and contribute to the generation of improved sheep breeds. The accumulated knowledge on the sheep genome will help advance and strengthen sheep breeding programs to face future challenges in the sector, such as climate change, global human population growth, and the increasing demand for products of animal origin.

Overview

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s12711-022-00753-3

Cites

360 of 360 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Figures

Fig. 1 Phenotype variation in sheep breeds. A representative example of phenotypic diversity in the Chinese sheep population (approximately 42 different indigenous breeds). Moreover, several imported sheep breeds (approximately 8) can be found in China, and over 21 improved and crossed breeds were generated by breeding local and imported breeds to yield multipurpose breeds for improved meat and wool production, as well as other productive traits. Images used herein were adapted with permission from Animal Genetic Resources in China: Sheep and Goats [217]
Fig. 1 Phenotype variation in sheep breeds. A representative example of phenotypic diversity in the Chinese sheep population (approximately 42 different indigenous breeds). Moreover, several imported sheep breeds (approximately 8) can be found in China, and over 21 improved and crossed breeds were generated by breeding local and imported breeds to yield multipurpose breeds for improved meat and wool production, as well as other productive traits. Images used herein were adapted with permission from Animal Genetic Resources in China: Sheep and Goats [217]CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Phenotype variation in sheep tails. Representative examples of common sheep tail patterns. The figure was conceived by Peter Kalds and designed by Guangyuan Cao
Fig. 2 Phenotype variation in sheep tails. Representative examples of common sheep tail patterns. The figure was conceived by Peter Kalds and designed by Guangyuan CaoCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Phenotype variation in sheep caudal vertebrae. Representative examples of caudal vertebrae among Chinese sheep breeds. From up to bottom, Tibetan (thin/short tail), Hu (fat/short tail), Lanping Black-bone (thin/moderate length tail), Tong (fat/long tail), and Tan sheep (fat/long tail)
Fig. 3 Phenotype variation in sheep caudal vertebrae. Representative examples of caudal vertebrae among Chinese sheep breeds. From up to bottom, Tibetan (thin/short tail), Hu (fat/short tail), Lanping Black-bone (thin/moderate length tail), Tong (fat/long tail), and Tan sheep (fat/long tail)CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Phenotype variation in sheep horns. a Polled phenotype, b scurred phenotype, c horned phenotype (curled tightly close to the face), d horned phenotype (spiral and horizontal extension; found in Chinese Tibetan sheep), and e horned phenotype (multi-spiral and up-forwarded; found in Hungarian Racka sheep). Photo credits and courtesies are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14
Fig. 4 Phenotype variation in sheep horns. a Polled phenotype, b scurred phenotype, c horned phenotype (curled tightly close to the face), d horned phenotype (spiral and horizontal extension; found in Chinese Tibetan sheep), and e horned phenotype (multi-spiral and up-forwarded; found in Hungarian Racka sheep). Photo credits and courtesies are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 5 Phenotype of Soay sheep at different developmental stages. Soay sheep are a well-studied sheep population which have significantly contributed to the understanding of the genomic background of various important phenotypic traits. Photo credits are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14
Fig. 5 Phenotype of Soay sheep at different developmental stages. Soay sheep are a well-studied sheep population which have significantly contributed to the understanding of the genomic background of various important phenotypic traits. Photo credits are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 6 Polyceraty (multi-horned phenotype) in sheep. Representative examples of different sheep breeds. Photo credits are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14
Fig. 6 Polyceraty (multi-horned phenotype) in sheep. Representative examples of different sheep breeds. Photo credits are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 7 An example of a sheep population from the United Kingdom with different horn patterns. Polledness (hornlessness), hornedness (a pair of horns), and polyceraty (multi-hornedness; more than a pair of horns) are shown. Figure copyright and published with the consent of Fiona Osbaldstone (fi@fionaosbaldstoneillustrator.co.uk)
Fig. 7 An example of a sheep population from the United Kingdom with different horn patterns. Polledness (hornlessness), hornedness (a pair of horns), and polyceraty (multi-hornedness; more than a pair of horns) are shown. Figure copyright and published with the consent of Fiona Osbaldstone (fi@fionaosbaldstoneillustrator.co.uk)CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 8 Other phenotypic traits in sheep. Representative examples of a dewlaps, b dropped ears, c pricked ears, d long ears, e short ears, f Roman noses, g curly fleeces, h manes, and i wattles. Photo credits and courtesies are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14
Fig. 8 Other phenotypic traits in sheep. Representative examples of a dewlaps, b dropped ears, c pricked ears, d long ears, e short ears, f Roman noses, g curly fleeces, h manes, and i wattles. Photo credits and courtesies are shown in Additional file 2: Table S14CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Citations

Cites

Items 201–360 of 360

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Ryder ML. Fleece colour in sheep and its inheritance. Anim Breed Abstr. 1980;48:305–24.
  2. Dýrmundsson ÓR. Four-hornedness; a rare peculiarity still found in Icelandic sheep. Icelandic Sheep Breeders North Am Newsl. 2005;9:6–8.
  3. Posbergh C, Huson H. Making Moorit: Mutations in TYRP1 are responsible for brown coat color in different United States sheep breeds. In: Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production: 11–16 February 2018; Auckland; 2018.
  4. Humphreys D. On a new variety in the breeds of sheep. Philos Trans R Soc Lond. 1813;103:88–95.
  5. Craven A, Scobie D, Ashby M, Nixon A. Wool follicle characteristics in sheep with differing ventral wool length phenotypes. Proc New Zeal Soc Anim Prod. 2008;68:49–52.
  6. China National Commission of Animal Genetic Resources. Animal genetic resources in China: sheep and goats. Beijing: China Agriculture Press; 2011.
  7. Duijvesteijn N, Weerasinghe S, van der Werf JHJ. Production accuracies for polled and horned merino sheep using different genetic models. Proc Assoc Adv Anim Breed Genet. 2017;22:349–52.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

See all 87

Related

See all

Metadata

Authors
Kalds, P., Zhou, S., Gao, Y., Cai, B., Huang, S., Chen, Y., & Wang, X.
Affiliations
  • Arish University (EG)
  • Northwest A&F University (CN)
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Chen, Yulin
  • Wang, Xiaolong
ORCID
Venue
Genetics Selection Evolution
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-09-09
Volume
54
Issue
1
Pages
61-61
ISSN
  • 0999-193X (ISSN-L)
  • 1297-9686
DOI
10.1186/s12711-022-00753-3
PMC
PMC9463822
OpenAlex
W4295031434
Cited by
85
References
362
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 1
FWCI
2.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Genetics Selection Evolution (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Key Technologies Research and Development Program (2018YFD0502100)
  • China Agriculture Research System (CARS-39-12)
  • Local Grants (NXTS2018-001, 2018KJXX-009)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Animal Genetics and Reproduction
Keywords
sheep, phenotypic variability, sheep breeds, coat color, wool traits, udder traits, ear traits, sheep genome, sheep breeding, domestication
MeSH terms
Domestication, Animals, Humans, Mammary Glands, Animal, Nucleotides, Phenotype, Sheep, Wool, Genomics

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review