Bioscience Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 24-31 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 24 Review and Progress Open Access Advances in Animal Disease Resistance Research: Discoveries of Genetic Markers for Disease Resistance in Cattle through GWAS Jue Huang , Xiaofang Lin Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Tropical Animal Center, Sanya, 572025, China Corresponding author email: 348601583@qq.com Bioscience Evidence, 2024, Vol.14, No.1 doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0004 Received: 05 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 08 Feb., 2024 Published: 20 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Huang and Lin, 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: Huang J., and Lin X.F., 2024, Advances in animal disease resistance research: discoveries of genetic markers for disease resistance in cattle through GWAS, Bioscience Evidence, 14(1): 24-31 (doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0004) Abstract This study summarizes the recent advancements in the application of GWAS technology in animal disease resistance research, emphasizing the importance and value of such studies. Initially, the genetic basis of animal disease resistance is introduced, with a focus on the relationship between the host immune system and disease resistance, as well as the genetic foundations of disease resistance. Subsequently, the principles, advantages, and historical development of GWAS technology in animal disease resistance research are elucidated. Following this, the application of GWAS technology in the discovery of genetic markers for disease resistance in cattle is discussed, including the research background, design methods, identified genetic markers for disease resistance, and their functional analysis. Finally, the significance of continued attention and support for animal disease resistance research is underscored, advocating for enhanced functional analysis of disease resistance-related genes, improved research data quality and sample sizes to advance animal disease resistance breeding. Keywords GWAS technology; Animal disease resistance; Genetic markers; Cattle; Immune system Animal diseases have always been one of the significant challenges faced by the livestock breeding industry. During the breeding process, various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi can cause animals to contract various diseases, severely affecting the economic benefits of the breeding industry and animal welfare (Liu et al., 2023). To reduce the adverse effects of diseases on the breeding industry and improve the health level and immunity of animals, scientists have been striving to find methods to enhance animals' disease resistance. Disease resistance, as a complex trait, is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Over the past few decades, through traditional genetics methods and molecular biology techniques, people have gained a preliminary understanding of the genetic basis of animal disease resistance (Bishop and Woolliams, 2014). However, with the rapid development of genomics and bio-informatics technologies, especially the application of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) technology, our understanding of animal disease resistance is undergoing revolutionary changes. GWAS technology, as a genetic association study method based on large-scale single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), has achieved many successes in humans and model organisms. With GWAS technology, researchers can identify genetic variations related to complex traits across the entire genome (Li and Ritchie, 2021). In the study of animal disease resistance, GWAS technology provides researchers with a new perspective, allowing them to understand the genetic mechanisms of animal disease resistance more comprehensively and deeply. This study aims to review the new progress in research on animal disease resistance, especially focusing on the discovery of genetic markers for cattle disease resistance using GWAS technology. This study hopes to provide new ideas and methods for the research of animal disease resistance, promote the healthy development of the livestock breeding industry, and provide humans with safer and more sustainable animal products.
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