Improvement of ewe reproduction is considerable by appropriately increasing litter size and sustaining non-seasonal breeding. However, their genetic makeups have not been entirely elucidated. Genome-wide analyses of 821 individuals were performed by combining three genomic approaches (genome-wide association study, XP-nSL, and runs of homozygosity). Consequently, 35 candidate genes including three domestication genes (TSHR, GTF2A1, and KITLG) were identified. Other than the FecB mutation at BMPR1B, we described a significant association of a missense mutation rs406686139 at seasonal lambing-associated TSHR gene with litter size. Some promising novel genes may be relevant for sheep reproduction by multitude biological processes, such as FETUB functioning in fertilization, HNRNPA1 in oogenesis, DCUN1D1 in spermatogenesis, and HRG in fertility outcome. The present study suggests that improvement of ewe reproduction is attributed to selective breeding, and casts light on the genetic basis and improvement of sheep reproduction.

中文翻译：

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组合方法识别与绵羊产仔数和非季节性育种相关的已知和新基因

通过适当增加窝产仔数和维持非季节性繁殖，母羊繁殖的改善是相当大的。然而，他们的基因组成尚未完全阐明。通过结合三种基因组方法（全基因组关联研究、XP-nSL 和纯合子运行）对 821 个人进行全基因组分析。因此，鉴定了 35 个候选基因，包括三个驯化基因（TSHR、GTF2A1和KITLG）。除了BMPR1B的FecB突变外，我们还描述了季节性产羔相关TSHR错义突变 rs406686139 的显着关联产仔数的基因。一些有前景的新基因可能通过多种生物过程与绵羊繁殖相关，例如在受精中发挥作用的FETUB、在卵子发生中发挥作用的 HNRNPA1、在精子发生中发挥作用的 DCUN1D1以及在生育结果中发挥作用的HRG。目前的研究表明，母羊繁殖的改进归因于选择性育种，并揭示了绵羊繁殖的遗传基础和改进。