A comprehensive analysis of the genetic diversity and environmental adaptability in worldwide Merino and Merino-derived sheep breeds

To enhance and extend the knowledge about the global historical and phylogenetic relationships between Merino and Merino-derived breeds, 19 populations were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 BeadChip specifically for this study, while an additional 23 populations from the publicly available genotypes we...

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Published in:	Genetics selection evolution (Paris) Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 24 - 18
Main Authors:	Ceccobelli, Simone, Landi, Vincenzo, Senczuk, Gabriele, Mastrangelo, Salvatore, Sardina, Maria Teresa, Ben-Jemaa, Slim, Persichilli, Christian, Karsli, Taki, Bâlteanu, Valentin-Adrian, Raschia, María Agustina, Poli, Mario Andrés, Ciappesoni, Gabriel, Muchadeyi, Farai Catherine, Dzomba, Edgar Farai, Kunene, Nokuthula Winfred, Lühken, Gesine, Deniskova, Tatiana Evgenievna, Dotsev, Arsen Vladimirovich, Zinovieva, Natalia Anatolievna, Zsolnai, Attila, Anton, István, Kusza, Szilvia, Carolino, Nuno, Santos-Silva, Fátima, Kawęcka, Aldona, Świątek, Marcin, Niżnikowski, Roman, Špehar, Marija, Anaya, Gabriel, Granero, Antonio, Perloiro, Tiago, Cardoso, Pedro, Grande, Silverio, de Los Santos, Beatriz López, Danchin-Burge, Coralie, Pasquini, Marina, Martínez Martínez, Amparo, Delgado Bermejo, Juan Vicente, Lasagna, Emiliano, Ciani, Elena, Sarti, Francesca Maria, Pilla, Fabio
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	France BioMed Central Ltd 03-04-2023 BioMed Central BMC
Subjects:	Adaptability Adaptation Animals Australia Biological diversity Centuries Chromosomes Climate change Environmental factors Genes Genetic analysis Genetic aspects Genetic diversity Genetic engineering Genetic research Genetic Variation Genomes Genomic islands Genomics Genotype Genotypes Haplotypes Homozygosity Hypoxia Immune response Iron Age Islands Life Sciences Middle Ages Mitochondrial DNA Neolithic Ovis aries Phylogeny Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide Population (statistical) Quality control Sheep Sheep - genetics Sheep, Domestic - genetics Software Statistical analysis Statistical tests Thermogenesis Wool Australia Uruguay Poland South Africa France Portugal Mediterranean Sea Spain Iberian Peninsula United States > US Europe
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Summary:	To enhance and extend the knowledge about the global historical and phylogenetic relationships between Merino and Merino-derived breeds, 19 populations were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 BeadChip specifically for this study, while an additional 23 populations from the publicly available genotypes were retrieved. Three complementary statistical tests, Rsb (extended haplotype homozygosity between-populations), XP-EHH (cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity), and runs of homozygosity (ROH) islands were applied to identify genomic variants with potential impact on the adaptability of Merino genetic type in two contrasting climate zones. The results indicate that a large part of the Merino's genetic relatedness and admixture patterns are explained by their genetic background and/or geographic origin, followed by local admixture. Multi-dimensional scaling, Neighbor-Net, Admixture, and TREEMIX analyses consistently provided evidence of the role of Australian, Rambouillet and German strains in the extensive gene introgression into the other Merino and Merino-derived breeds. The close relationship between Iberian Merinos and other South-western European breeds is consistent with the Iberian origin of the Merino genetic type, with traces from previous contributions of other Mediterranean stocks. Using Rsb and XP-EHH approaches, signatures of selection were detected spanning four genomic regions located on Ovis aries chromosomes (OAR) 1, 6 and 16, whereas two genomic regions on OAR6, that partially overlapped with the previous ones, were highlighted by ROH islands. Overall, the three approaches identified 106 candidate genes putatively under selection. Among them, genes related to immune response were identified via the gene interaction network. In addition, several candidate genes were found, such as LEKR1, LCORL, GHR, RBPJ, BMPR1B, PPARGC1A, and PRKAA1, related to morphological, growth and reproductive traits, adaptive thermogenesis, and hypoxia responses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive dataset that includes most of the Merino and Merino-derived sheep breeds raised in different regions of the world. The results provide an in-depth picture of the genetic makeup of the current Merino and Merino-derived breeds, highlighting the possible selection pressures associated with the combined effect of anthropic and environmental factors. The study underlines the importance of Merino genetic types as invaluable resources of possible adaptive diversity in the context of the occurring climate changes.
ISSN:	1297-9686 0999-193X 1297-9686
DOI:	10.1186/s12711-023-00797-z