The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness
Health and survival are key goals for selective breeding in farm animals. Progress, however, is often limited by the low heritability of these animal fitness traits in addition to measurement difficulties. In this respect, relevant early-life biomarkers may be useful for breeding purposes. Telomere...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2019.01048/full |
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| author | Joanna J. Ilska-Warner Joanna J. Ilska-Warner Androniki Psifidi Androniki Psifidi Luise A. Seeker Luise A. Seeker Rachael V. Wilbourn Sarah L. Underwood Jennifer Fairlie Bruce Whitelaw Daniel H. Nussey Mike P. Coffey Georgios Banos Georgios Banos |
| author_facet | Joanna J. Ilska-Warner Joanna J. Ilska-Warner Androniki Psifidi Androniki Psifidi Luise A. Seeker Luise A. Seeker Rachael V. Wilbourn Sarah L. Underwood Jennifer Fairlie Bruce Whitelaw Daniel H. Nussey Mike P. Coffey Georgios Banos Georgios Banos |
| author_sort | Joanna J. Ilska-Warner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Health and survival are key goals for selective breeding in farm animals. Progress, however, is often limited by the low heritability of these animal fitness traits in addition to measurement difficulties. In this respect, relevant early-life biomarkers may be useful for breeding purposes. Telomere length (TL), measured in leukocytes, is a good candidate biomarker since TL has been associated with health, ageing, and stress in humans and other species. However, telomere studies are very limited in farm animals. Here, we examined the genetic background, genomic architecture, and factors affecting bovine TL measurements in early life, and the association of the latter with animal fitness traits expressed later in life associated with survival, longevity, health, and reproduction. We studied two TL measurements, one at birth (TLB) and another during the first lactation (TLFL) of a cow. We performed a genome-wide association study of dairy cattle TL, the first in a non-human species, and found that TLB and TLFL are complex, polygenic, moderately heritable, and highly correlated traits. However, genomic associations with distinct chromosomal regions were identified for the two traits suggesting that their genomic architecture is not identical. This is reflected in changes in TL throughout an individual’s life. TLB had a significant association with survival, length of productive life and future health status of the animal, and could be potentially used as an early-life biomarker for disease predisposition and longevity in dairy cattle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T13:19:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8fbf580e719f4a69aac690a85f085603 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T13:19:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8fbf580e719f4a69aac690a85f0856032022-12-21T23:44:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212019-10-011010.3389/fgene.2019.01048480731The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal FitnessJoanna J. Ilska-Warner0Joanna J. Ilska-Warner1Androniki Psifidi2Androniki Psifidi3Luise A. Seeker4Luise A. Seeker5Rachael V. Wilbourn6Sarah L. Underwood7Jennifer Fairlie8Bruce Whitelaw9Daniel H. Nussey10Mike P. Coffey11Georgios Banos12Georgios Banos13Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United KingdomThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomRoyal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United KingdomAnimal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United KingdomMRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomAnimal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United KingdomAnimal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United KingdomThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomHealth and survival are key goals for selective breeding in farm animals. Progress, however, is often limited by the low heritability of these animal fitness traits in addition to measurement difficulties. In this respect, relevant early-life biomarkers may be useful for breeding purposes. Telomere length (TL), measured in leukocytes, is a good candidate biomarker since TL has been associated with health, ageing, and stress in humans and other species. However, telomere studies are very limited in farm animals. Here, we examined the genetic background, genomic architecture, and factors affecting bovine TL measurements in early life, and the association of the latter with animal fitness traits expressed later in life associated with survival, longevity, health, and reproduction. We studied two TL measurements, one at birth (TLB) and another during the first lactation (TLFL) of a cow. We performed a genome-wide association study of dairy cattle TL, the first in a non-human species, and found that TLB and TLFL are complex, polygenic, moderately heritable, and highly correlated traits. However, genomic associations with distinct chromosomal regions were identified for the two traits suggesting that their genomic architecture is not identical. This is reflected in changes in TL throughout an individual’s life. TLB had a significant association with survival, length of productive life and future health status of the animal, and could be potentially used as an early-life biomarker for disease predisposition and longevity in dairy cattle.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2019.01048/fulltelomere lengthbovinegenetic parametersGWASanimal fitnesslongevity |
| spellingShingle | Joanna J. Ilska-Warner Joanna J. Ilska-Warner Androniki Psifidi Androniki Psifidi Luise A. Seeker Luise A. Seeker Rachael V. Wilbourn Sarah L. Underwood Jennifer Fairlie Bruce Whitelaw Daniel H. Nussey Mike P. Coffey Georgios Banos Georgios Banos The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness Frontiers in Genetics telomere length bovine genetic parameters GWAS animal fitness longevity |
| title | The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness |
| title_full | The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness |
| title_fullStr | The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness |
| title_short | The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness |
| title_sort | genetic architecture of bovine telomere length in early life and association with animal fitness |
| topic | telomere length bovine genetic parameters GWAS animal fitness longevity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2019.01048/full |
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