2026-10-14T14:55:38Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33980852 2026-09-24T09:20:02Z category_13 category_24 category_272 category_39 category_734 category_106 category_133 category_134 portal_87 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Genetic diversity and selection signatures in the Cornigliese sheep breed Vittoria Asti (14490794) Andrea Summer (10446731) Michela Ablondi (7402970) Viola Gasparotto (25103108) Lorenzo Marini (465229) Alessio Negro (11533696) Silverio Grande (15263618) Maria Sofia Ferrari (25103111) Massimo Malacarne (10446725) Alberto Sabbioni (11940350) Genetics Evolutionary Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Ecology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Science Policy Plant Biology Virology Genetic diversity local breed run of homozygosity pedigree analysis signature of selection <p>The Cornigliese sheep is an Italian local breed experiencing a reduction in population size. The present study aims to investigate genetic diversity and selection patterns in the Cornigliese sheep breed using an integrated approach based on pedigree and genomic data. We used pedigree information from 5,784 animals and genomic data from 293 individuals genotyped with the Ovine 50K SNP chip. A total of 42 individuals from the Bergamasca breed were genotyped with the same SNP and included as a reference population, given the documented historical introgression of Bergamasca genetics into the Cornigliese breed. Pedigree completeness was low (CGE = 2.23), limiting the reliability of pedigree-based estimates, whereas genomic inbreeding (F_ROH = 8%–11%) was consistent with values reported for other Italian local breeds. Population structure analyses highlighted close clustering between Cornigliese and Bergamasca sheep, reflecting their historical exchange. Selection-signature analysis revealed several ROH islands, containing genes and QTLs associated with growth, meat, milk and adaptation traits. Candidate genes related to body size and growth, including NCAPG, PLAG1 and FAM184B, were identified. Additional genes, such as LAP3, LOXL2 and MEPE, have previously been associated with milk production and milk composition traits, while genes DNAJB5, PEBP4, HERC2 and MLANA suggest possible selection for environmental adaptation, immune response, parasite resistance and pigmentation traits. Our results identify genomic regions that may have been shaped by both historical and ongoing selective pressures and provide insights to support conservation measures and future genomic selection strategies for this endangered breed.</p> <p></p><p>Integration of pedigree (5,784 animals) and genomic SNP data (50K chip) showed that pedigree‑based inbreeding underestimates true autozygosity. In contrast, genomic inbreeding estimated from Runs of Homozygosity (FROH ≈ 8%–11%) provides a more accurate representation of realised homozygosity, highlighting discrepancies between the two metrics.</p><p>PCA and FST analyses revealed a close genetic relationship between Cornigliese and Bergamasca sheep.</p><p>ROH islands contain genes and QTLs associated with production, fertility and adaptation traits, providing targets for conservation and future genomic selection strategies.</p><p></p> <p>Integration of pedigree (5,784 animals) and genomic SNP data (50K chip) showed that pedigree‑based inbreeding underestimates true autozygosity. In contrast, genomic inbreeding estimated from Runs of Homozygosity (FROH ≈ 8%–11%) provides a more accurate representation of realised homozygosity, highlighting discrepancies between the two metrics.</p> <p>PCA and FST analyses revealed a close genetic relationship between Cornigliese and Bergamasca sheep.</p> <p>ROH islands contain genes and QTLs associated with production, fertility and adaptation traits, providing targets for conservation and future genomic selection strategies.</p> 2026-09-24T09:20:02Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.33980852.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Genetic_diversity_and_selection_signatures_in_the_Cornigliese_sheep_breed/33980852 CC BY 4.0