Animal Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 54-61 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 58 4.2 Optimization of muscle tissue-related traits The quality of mutton is mainly affected by the muscle tissue. High-quality muscle tissue can improve the taste, tenderness and nutritional value of mutton. Genome-wide association analysis can help researchers identify key genes that influence muscle tissue growth and development (Figure 1). These genes may affect aspects such as muscle fiber growth, muscle fiber type distribution, and muscle fat content. Through the study of these genes, people can gain an in-depth understanding of the genetic mechanism in the formation of muscle tissue, and then conduct targeted breeding efforts to improve mutton production traits. Figure 1 The network of differentially methylated genes associated with muscle development in sheep (Mohammadabadi et al., 2021) Note: Darker lines indicate higher confidence levels 4.3 Optimization of adipose tissue-related traits Fat tissue is one of the important factors affecting mutton quality. The distribution and content of fat directly affect the taste and flavor of mutton. Genome-wide association analysis can help people gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism of adipose tissue formation and development (Zhang et al., 2021). Some genes are closely related to processes such as adipocyte proliferation, fatty acid synthesis, and fat metabolism. By studying these genes, we will find the key genes that regulate adipose tissue, and take corresponding breeding measures to optimize the fat content and fat tissue distribution of mutton, and improve the taste and flavor of mutton. 4.4 Analysis and optimization of other key traits In addition to traits such as body size, muscle tissue and adipose tissue, there are many other key traits affecting lamb production that need to be analyzed and optimized. For example, wool quality, disease resistance, reproductive performance, etc. are all important factors affecting mutton production (Figure 2). Through genome-wide association analysis, people can deeply study the genetic mechanisms behind these traits and provide more comprehensive optimization solutions for mutton production. Through the application of genome-wide association analysis in mutton production traits, people can have a deeper understanding of the genetic background of sheep, accurately select breeding objects, and optimize breeding strategies, thereby improving the production efficiency and quality of mutton and satisfying people's demand for high-quality meat. needs. The application of this method not only contributes to the development of the breeding industry, but also provides consumers with better quality meat products.
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