Maximizing the number of offspring born per female is a key functionality trait in commercial- and/or subsistence-oriented livestock enterprises. Although the number of offspring born is closely associated with female fertility and reproductive success, the genetic control of these traits remains poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa livestock. Using selection signature analysis performed on Ovine HD BeadChip data from the prolific Bonga sheep in Ethiopia, 41 candidate regions under selection were identified. The analysis revealed one strong selection signature on a candidate region on chromosome X spanning BMP15, suggesting this to be the primary candidate prolificacy gene in the breed. The analysis also identified several candidate regions spanning genes not reported before in prolific sheep but underlying fertility and reproduction in other species. The genes associated with female reproduction traits included SPOCK1 (age at first oestrus), GPR173 (mediator of ovarian cyclicity), HB-EGF (signalling early pregnancy success) and SMARCAL1 and HMGN3a (regulate gene expression during embryogenesis). The genes involved in male reproduction were FOXJ1 (sperm function and successful fertilization) and NME5 (spermatogenesis). We also observed genes such as PKD2L2, MAGED1 and KDM3B, which have been associated with diverse fertility traits in both sexes of other species. The results confirm the complexity of the genetic mechanisms underlying reproduction while suggesting that prolificacy in the Bonga sheep, and possibly African indigenous sheep is partly under the control of BMP15 while other genes that enhance male and female fertility are essential for reproductive fitness.

中文翻译：

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全基因组扫描识别了与撒哈拉以南非洲本土绵羊（Ovis aries）的繁殖力和繁殖特征相关的已知和新区域。


最大化每只女性生育的后代数量是商业和/或自给型畜牧企业的关键功能特征。尽管出生的后代数量与女性生育力和繁殖成功率密切相关，但在撒哈拉以南非洲牲畜中这些性状的遗传控制仍然知之甚少。通过对埃塞俄比亚多产邦加羊的 Ovine HD BeadChip 数据进行选择特征分析，确定了 41 个候选区域。分析揭示了 X 染色体上跨越 BMP15 的候选区域上的一个强选择特征，表明这是该品种中的主要候选繁殖基因。该分析还确定了几个候选区域，这些区域涵盖了以前在多产绵羊中未报道过的基因，但这些基因是其他物种的生育和繁殖的基础。与雌性生殖特征相关的基因包括SPOCK1（首次发情年龄）、GPR173（卵巢周期调节因子）、HB-EGF（早期妊娠成功信号）以及SMARCAL1和HMGN3a（胚胎发生过程中调节基因表达）。参与雄性生殖的基因是FOXJ1（精子功能和成功受精）和NME5（精子发生）。我们还观察到了 PKD2L2、MAGED1 和 KDM3B 等基因，这些基因与其他物种的两性的不同生育性状有关。结果证实了生殖遗传机制的复杂性，同时表明邦加羊（可能还有非洲本土羊）的繁殖力部分受到 BMP15 的控制，而其他增强雄性和雌性生育能力的基因对于生殖适应性至关重要。