Genetic regulation and variation of expression of miRNA and mRNA transcripts in fetal muscle tissue in the context of sex, dam and variable fetal weight

Abstract

Highlights Sexual dimorphism of weight and muscle transcript abundance occurs during the prenatal development. Most sex-dependently expressed genes are located on the X or Y chromosome. Transcript levels associated with fetal weight are enriched in metabolic pathways. Coincidence of genetic regulation (eQTL) and variation in transcript abundance due to sex, dam and fetal weight was identified.

Keywords

• Fetal weight
• Pig
• Sex-differences
• miRNA
• mRNA