Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies 12 Loci Associated with Body Weight at Age 8 Weeks in Korean Native Chickens

Abstract

Meat from Korean native chickens (KNCs) has high consumer demand; however, slow growth performance and high variation in body weight (BW) of KNCs remain an issue. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a powerful method to identify quantitative trait-associated genomic loci. A GWAS, based on a large-scale KNC population, is needed to identify underlying genetic mechanisms related to its growth traits. To identify BW-associated genomic regions, we performed a GWAS using the chicken 60K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel for 1328 KNCs. BW was measured at 8 weeks of age, from 2018 to 2020. Twelve SNPs were associated with BW at the suggestive significance level (p −5) and located near or within 11 candidate genes, including WDR37, KCNIP4, SLIT2, PPARGC1A, MYOCD and ADGRA3. Gene set enrichment analysis based on the GWAS results at p p < 0.05) for BW-associated genes. These pathways are involved in cell growth and development, related to BW gain. The identified SNPs are potential biomarkers in KNC breeding.

Keywords

• Korean native chicken
• genome-wide association study
• body weight
• gene set enrichment analysis