Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
H. D. Blackburn, B. C. Krehbiel
Summary: This study evaluated the genetic diversity of several traditional chicken breeds in the United States and aimed to provide baseline data for the conservation of their genetic resources. The results showed that there is significant genetic variability within these breeds' populations, and the gene bank has successfully captured this diversity for future use.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dominga Soglia, Stefano Sartore, Emiliano Lasagna, Cesare Castellini, Filippo Cendron, Francesco Perini, Martino Cassandro, Margherita Marzoni, Nicolaia Iaffaldano, Arianna Buccioni, Sihem Dabbou, Annelisse Castillo, Sandra Maione, Chiara Bianchi, Margherita Profiti, Paola Sacchi, Silvia Cerolini, Achille Schiavone
Summary: The study analyzed the genetic diversity of 17 autochthonous chicken breeds in Italy, evaluating their contribution to overall genetic diversity. It was found that 11 of these breeds are in endangered status, highlighting their important role in Italian poultry genetic diversity.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Marco Tolone, Maria Teresa Sardina, Andrea Criscione, Emiliano Lasagna, Gabriele Senczuk, Ilaria Rizzuto, Silvia Riggio, Angelo Moscarelli, Vito Macaluso, Rosalia Di Gerlando, Martino Cassandro, Baldassare Portolano, Salvatore Mastrangelo
Summary: Italy has a diverse range of local chicken populations, including Val Platani (VPL) and Cornuta (COS), which are important genetic resources. This study used genotype data to investigate the genetic diversity, runs of homozygosity (ROH), population structure, and relationship of these populations. The results showed moderate genetic diversity in both populations, with ROH hotspots associated with immune response and adaptation to local temperatures. The population structure analysis revealed clear clustering based on geographic origin, with COS forming a distinct genomic cluster and VPL showing intermediate relationships with other Italian local chickens.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Romesh Kumar Salgotra, Bhagirath Singh Chauhan
Summary: Plant genetic resources (PGRs) are crucial for increasing farming resilience and profit and should be conserved for sustainable food security. The diversity of genetic resources, including landraces, wild relatives, and modern varieties, contributes to maintaining sustainable biodiversity and developing new crop varieties with desirable traits. Biotechnological tools, such as next-generation sequencing and gene banks, aid in the characterization and conservation of rare species, as well as the identification and transfer of novel genes for crop breeding. This article focuses on recent advancements in maintaining genetic resource diversity, conservation, and sustainable utilization for global food security.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Nisar Uddin, Noor Muhammad, Sameh Samir Ali, Riaz Ullah, Ahmed Bari, Hidayat Hussain, Daochen Zhu
Summary: Understanding the impacts and constraints of climate change on the geographical distribution of Ziziphus nummularia is crucial for its sustainability. This study analyzed field investigation and climate change data using ArcGIS analysis. Genetic diversity of 180 genotypes from three populations was studied using morphological attributes and simple sequence repeat (SSR). Results showed that mean temperature was a significant factor limiting the distribution. Current and future suitable regions were identified as Swat and Buner, respectively. Phenotypic traits and genetic diversity were assessed, indicating the presence of variability and unique alleles. Conservation strategies are required due to the impact of climate change on species distributions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ante Ivankovic, Giovanni Bittante, Gordan Subara, Edmondo Suran, Zdenko Ivkic, Mateja Pecina, Miljenko Konjacic, Ivica Kos, Nikolina Kelava Ugarkovic, Jelena Ramljak
Summary: This study analyzed the demographic and genetic status of the Istrian donkey and Littoral-Dinaric donkey breeds. The results showed that there were no significant changes in the genetic differentiation between the two breeds over the past two decades. The genetic analysis also revealed high genetic diversity in both breeds.
Article
Forestry
Qian Tian, Yousry A. El-Kassaby, Wei Li
Summary: Understanding the genetic variation and differentiation of natural populations is crucial for the protection of endangered species like Pinus bungeana. The study analyzed genetic diversity, genetic structure, phylogeny, and geographical differentiation of 52 individuals from 5 populations. The results showed a decrease in genetic diversity from west to east and the presence of significant genetic differentiation among populations due to geographic isolation. The findings provide valuable information for in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for P. bungeana.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Nicolaia Iaffaldano, Michele Di Iorio, Giusy Rusco, Emanuele Antenucci, Luisa Zaniboni, Manuela Madeddu, Stefano Marelli, Achille Schiavone, Dominga Soglia, Arianna Buccioni, Martino Cassandro, Cesare Castellini, Margherita Marzoni, Silvia Cerolini
Summary: The paper describes the activities carried out for the establishment of the first Italian Semen Cryobank for autochthonous chicken and turkey breeds, including species-specific semen freezing protocols, drafting Standard Operative Procedures, and storage of semen doses. The creation of the Italian Semen Cryobank provides useful information and tools for implementing semen cryobanking in avian species, and the results might be transferred to other species with appropriate adaptations.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matteo Cortellari, Mario Barbato, Andrea Talenti, Arianna Bionda, Antonello Carta, Roberta Ciampolini, Elena Ciani, Alessandra Crisa, Stefano Frattini, Emiliano Lasagna, Donata Marletta, Salvatore Mastrangelo, Alessio Negro, Ettore Randi, Francesca M. Sarti, Stefano Sartore, Dominga Soglia, Luigi Liotta, Alessandra Stella, Paolo Ajmone-Marsan, Fabio Pilla, Licia Colli, Paola Crepaldi
Summary: The study investigated the genetic structure of Italian goat populations and their link with the environment, revealing three distinct groups reflective of the country's geography and historical background. Landscape genomics analysis identified SNPs associated with growth, circadian rhythm, fertility, and inflammatory response, with calculations of future genotypic frequencies to evaluate long-term effects on genetic structure. Overall, the results provide insight into the past and future of Italian goat populations, aiding in the development of conservation strategies in the face of climate change.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Filip Alimpic, Jelena Milovanovic, Remigiusz Pielech, Georgi Hinkov, Roland Jansson, Simon Dufour, Marcin Beza, Nebi Bilir, Luis Santos del Blanco, Gregor Bozic, Daniel Bruno, Pier Mario Chiarabaglio, Neli Doncheva, Yasar Selman Gultekin, Mladen Ivankovic, Mary Kelly-Quinn, Nicola La Porta, Marina Nonic, Eduardo Notivol, Eva Papastergiadou, Mirjana Sijacic-Nikolic, Lorenzo Vietto, Marc Villar, Petar Zhelev, Patricia Maria Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: This study investigated the opinions of experts on the current status and conservation needs of genetic diversity of riparian tree species in Europe. The experts recognized that a combination of in situ and ex situ measures is the most appropriate option for conserving the genetic diversity of riparian tree species.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peterson W. Wambugu, Robert Henry
Summary: The past decade has seen significant technological advancements in genomics, specifically in DNA sequencing. Genomics has the potential to support in situ conservation of crop wild relatives (CWRs) by aiding in the prioritization of protection, identification of novel alleles for conservation, identification of potential sources of adaptive traits, and establishment of genetic reserves. It also has the potential to develop monitoring frameworks to track genetic diversity changes associated with land use and climate change. However, the widespread application of genomics in conservation is hindered by funding and lack of genomic expertise among conservation practitioners.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tesfaye Walle Mekonnen, Firew Mekbib, Berhanu Amsalu, Melaku Gedil, Maryke Labuschagne
Summary: Understanding genetic diversity is crucial for the conservation and utilization of genetic resources in orphan crops like cowpea. This study assessed the genetic diversity within cowpea genotypes and identified regions for future collection and conservation efforts. The results showed high levels of diversity among genotypes based on phenotypic traits, with distinct groups identified through cluster analysis. Seed color and plant vigor were major contributors to the genetic variation between regions.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Sarada Krishnan, Tracie Matsumoto, Chifumi Nagai, James Falconer, Suzanne Shriner, Jennifer Long, Juan F. Medrano, Fernando E. Vega
Summary: Coffee is one of the most important agricultural commodities globally, with over 2.2 billion cups consumed daily. There are two main cultivated species - Arabica and robusta coffee. Global production forecast shows the need for increased investments in coffee research to tackle challenges brought by climate change.
GENETIC RESOURCES AND CROP EVOLUTION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. Kor Oldenbroek
Summary: The conservation of genetic diversity is a costly process, but genomic information is now essential for making choices in conservation. Genomics can accurately measure genetic distances and detect valuable rare alleles and haplotypes, aiding in the conservation of genomic regions.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Svetlana Kasabova, Maria Hartmann, Fritjof Freise, Katharina Hommerich, Stephani Fischer, Andreas Wilms-Schulze-Kump, Karl Rohn, Annemarie Kaesbohrer, Lothar Kreienbrock
Summary: The study presented antimicrobial usage data from commercial broiler chicken flocks in Germany, with a focus on investigating antibiotic usage patterns, treatment frequency trends, proportions of different antimicrobial classes, and weights of the broiler chickens at the time of treatment. The analysis revealed significant variations in treatment indicators based on different antimicrobial classes and a decrease in the usage of highest-priority critically important antimicrobials over the 6 years evaluated.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
E. F. Dzomba, M. Chimonyo, R. Pierneef, F. C. Muchadeyi
Summary: This study examined the frequency and distribution patterns of runs of homozygosity (ROH) in South African sheep breeds, finding that it corresponded to the breed history and selection pressures. Different breeds exhibited varying levels of autozygosity, with genes within ROH islands associated with important traits and predomestic selection factors.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tanja Nolte, Simon Jansen, Steffen Weigend, Daniel Moerlein, Ingrid Halle, Henner Simianer, Ahmad Reza Sharifi
Summary: The study found that the quality of chicken eggs is influenced by genotype and diet composition. Feeding faba beans had an effect on yolk and shell color, Haugh units, and shell portion.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Claudia Dierks, Stefanie Altgilbers, Annett Weigend, Rudolf Preisinger, Steffen Weigend
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Keabetswe Tebogo Ncube, Edgar Farai Dzomba, Khanyisile Hadebe, Pranisha Soma, Lorinda Frylinck, Farai Catherine Muchadeyi
Summary: South Africa is a major goat producing country in Africa, but there is still a growing demand for chevon. Despite being easily accessible and having health benefits, chevon is less preferred due to perceived low meat quality. This study investigates the carcass quality and associated genomic regions of different goat breeds in South Africa, providing insights for future breed improvement programs.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Nyaradzo Stella Chaora, Khulekani Sedwell Khanyile, Kudakwashe Magwedere, Rian Pierneef, Frederick Tawi Tabit, Farai Catherine Muchadeyi
Summary: This study utilized gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to determine mislabeling of processed meat products using the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The results showed that pork was the major contaminant in most meat samples. This method can be used to authenticate meat products and manage mislabeling.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Johannes Geibel, Nora Paulina Praefke, Steffen Weigend, Henner Simianer, Christian Reimer
Summary: This study aimed to generate a precise SV callset from whole-genome short-read sequencing (WGS) data for three commercial chicken populations and to evaluate the linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns between the called SVs and surrounding SNPs. The results indicated that LD between deletions (DELs) and SNPs was similar to LD between SNPs, while LD between other SVs and SNPs was significantly reduced. The main reason for the reduced LD was the presence of local minor allele frequency differences. Genotyping accuracy was lower for duplications (DUP), inversions (INV), and translocation breakpoints (BND) compared to SNPs and deletions (DELs). The presence of tag SNPs was slightly lower for DELs compared to WGS SNPs, but this difference disappeared when considering SNPs located on different chicken genotyping arrays.
Article
Physiology
Julia Mehlhorn, Anja Hoehne, Ulrich Baulain, Lars Schrader, Steffen Weigend, Stefanie Petow
Summary: This study analyzed the concentration of estradiol-17β in laying hens of different laying lines at different ages. The results showed that high-performing hens had higher estradiol-17β concentrations compared to low-performing hens. The highest concentration was observed at the 49th to 51st week of age, while the peak of laying intensity was observed at the 33rd to 35th week of age. Additionally, housing conditions influenced the estradiol-17β concentrations, with hens in cages showing higher concentrations compared to those in a floor housing system.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mamokoma Cathrine Modiba, Khathutshelo Agree Nephawe, Jun Wang, Nompilo Hlongwane, Khanyisile Hadebe, Wenfa Lu, Bohani Mtileni
Summary: This study identified the distribution of ROH in six beef cattle breeds and suggested nine candidate genes associated with semen QTL traits. The results showed moderate levels of inbreeding in some breeds and provided guidance for breeding programs.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Shijie Lyu, Danny Arends, Mostafa K. Nassar, Annett Weigend, Steffen Weigend, Eryao Wang, Gudrun A. Brockmann
Summary: This study identified genomic regions associated with body size differences between Asian Game and Asian Bantam type chickens through a genome-wide association study and principal component analysis. The investigated Asian Game type chicken breeds were found to be genetically different from the Asian Bantam breeds. A region on chromosome 4 (17.3-21.3 Mb) was identified as potentially contributing to the phenotypic difference, although further validation of candidate genes is necessary.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stefanie Altgilbers, Claudia Dierks, Sabine Klein, Steffen Weigend, Wilfried A. Kues
Summary: This study establishes a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing protocol for modifying primordial germ cells (PGCs) derived from chickens with blue eggshell color. The efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in introducing large gene deletions in chicken PGCs is demonstrated. The presented workflow provides a cost-effective and rapid solution for screening the editing success in transfected PGCs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Njabulo M. Dlamini, Edgar F. Dzomba, Mpumelelo Magawana, Sphamandla Ngcamu, Farai C. Muchadeyi
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity and similarities and differences within and between two conservation herds of the South African Nguni Cattle. The results showed reduced genetic diversity in the two herds, calling for measures to protect the diversity of the South African Nguni cattle.
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Michael N. N. Romanov, Johann Soelkner, Natalia A. A. Zinovieva, Klaus Wimmers, Steffen Weigend
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Aletta Matshidiso Magoro, Bohani Mtileni, Khanyisile Hadebe, Avhashoni Zwane
Summary: This review focuses on the genetic diversity, conservation, and sustainable utilization of indigenous goat ecotypes in South Africa. The indigenous goats are valuable animal resources, as they can thrive in resource-limited production systems and challenging environmental conditions. However, there are gaps in the current knowledge, necessitating further research using genomics technologies to assess their genetic diversity and inform conservation strategies.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Ripfumelo Success Mabunda, Mahlako Linah Makgahlela, Khathutshelo Agree Nephawe, Bohani Mtileni
Summary: Genetic diversity studies on dog breeds, using pedigree and molecular markers, are important for increasing adaptability and survival of dog populations. Genomic tools have become the preferred method for accurate estimation and improvement of genetic diversity in recent years.
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Mamokoma Cathrine Modiba, Khathutshelo Agree Nephawe, Khanyisile Hadebe Mdladla, Wenfa Lu, Bohani Mtileni
Summary: This review study identified over 40 genes associated with bull semen production traits using GWAS, which is particularly important for the successful implementation of breeding programs, especially where artificial insemination is practiced.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
