SNP markers associated with body size and pelt length in American mink (Neovison vison)

BMC Genet. 2018 Nov 12;19(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s12863-018-0688-6.

Abstract

Background: Identification of genes underlying production traits is a key aim of the mink research community. Recent availability of genomic tools have opened the possibility for faster genetic progress in mink breeding. Availability of mink genome assembly allows genome-wide association studies in mink.

Results: In this study, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to obtain single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes of 2496 mink. After multiple rounds of filtering, we retained 28,336 high quality SNPs and 2352 individuals for a genome-wide association study (GWAS). We performed the first GWAS for body weight, behavior, along with 10 traits related to fur quality in mink.

Conclusions: Combining association results with existing functional information of genes and mammalian phenotype databases, we proposed WWC3, MAP2K4, SLC7A1 and USP22 as candidate genes for body weight and pelt length in mink.

Keywords: American mink; Body weight; GWAS; Pelt length; Production trait.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Size / genetics*
  • Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 1 / genetics
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Genotype
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / genetics
  • Mink / genetics*
  • Mink / physiology
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Thiolester Hydrolases / genetics

Substances

  • Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 1
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4
  • Thiolester Hydrolases