International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 44-53 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 44 Research Report Open Access Progress in Genetic Research on Behavioral Traits in Livestock: Application of Whole Genome Association Analysis MingGuo Modern Agricultural Research Center of Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding author email: 2630076652@qq.com International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol.14, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0006 Received: 09 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 16 Feb., 2024 Published: 27 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Guo, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Guo M., 2024, Progress in genetic research on behavioral traits in livestock: application of whole genome association analysis, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 14(1): 44-53 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0006) Abstract This study reviewed the application of genome-wide association analysis (Genome-wide association study, GWAS) and its progress in genetic studies of behavioral traits in domestic animals. By combing the cases of GWAS applications for behavioral traits such as stress response, social behavior, and maternal behavior in different livestock species (such as cows, pigs, sheep, poultry, etc.), this study demonstrates the contribution of GWAS in revealing the genetic basis of these complex traits, and discusses the challenges faced by GWAS research, such as the genetic heterogeneity of the complex traits, the effects of population structure and environmental factors, and the difficulty of detecting rare variants. detection difficulties. This study also emphasizes the importance of integrating genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors in the study of behavioral traits in livestock, and explores the potential of new technologies, such as gene editing and integrated multi-omics analyses, to be applied in future studies. The study concludes with a summary of the practical applications of GWAS for livestock genetic improvement and breed selection, as well as possible improvements in livestock productivity and animal welfare. The analysis of existing studies aims to provide a reference for genetic studies of behavioral traits in livestock and to provide suggestions for future research directions and applications. Keywords Genome-wide association analysis; Livestock behavioral traits; Genetic improvement; Animal welfare; Integrated multi-omics analysis In modern animal husbandry, the behavioral traits of livestock are of great importance for improving production efficiency and ensuring animal welfare. These behavioral traits, including stress response, social interaction, feeding behavior, reproductive behavior, etc., not only affect the growth, development and health status of animals, but also directly relate to the economic efficiency and social sustainability of animal husbandry. Exploring the genetic basis of behavioral traits in livestock and how to optimize these traits by means of genetic improvement is of great theoretical significance for improving breeds, increasing productivity, and ensuring animal welfare (Guo et al., 2021). Genetic studies of behavioral traits are not only important for scientific understanding, but also directly related to the application value in actual production. Genetic improvement can select and breed livestock breeds with stronger adaptability and better production performance, thus improving the productivity and economic efficiency of animal husbandry. At the same time, to improve the welfare state of animals and improve their quality of life is also an important requirement of modern society to the livestock industry, in-depth investigation of the genetic mechanism of livestock behavioral traits is of great practical significance for the realization of the sustainable development of the animal husbandry industry. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) technology has been widely used as a powerful tool in livestock genetics research in recent years, and GWAS is able to identify genetic variants associated with specific traits on a genome-wide scale, thus revealing the genetic basis of these traits. Compared to traditional genetic research methods, GWAS has higher resolution and stronger discovery capabilities, enabling researchers to effectively uncover key genes and genetic markers associated with complex traits without a priori genetic information. This high-throughput and unbiased analysis has greatly contributed to the advancement of livestock genetics research (Tang et al., 2020). With the help of genome-wide association analysis, researchers are able to more precisely
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