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The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness

Ilska-Warner, J J; Psifidi, A; Seeker, L A; Wilbourn, R V; Underwood, S L; Fairlie, J; Whitelaw, B; Nussey, D H; Coffey, M P; Banos, G

Authors

J J Ilska-Warner

A Psifidi

L A Seeker

R V Wilbourn

S L Underwood

J Fairlie

B Whitelaw

D H Nussey

M P Coffey

G Banos



Abstract

Health and survival are key goals for selective breeding in farm animals. Progress, however, is often limited by the low heritability of these animal fitness traits in addition to measurement difficulties. In this respect, relevant early-life biomarkers may be useful for breeding purposes. Telomere length (TL), measured in leukocytes, is a good candidate biomarker since TL has been associated with health, ageing, and stress in humans and other species. However, telomere studies are very limited in farm animals. Here, we examined the genetic background, genomic architecture, and factors affecting bovine TL measurements in early life, and the association of the latter with animal fitness traits expressed later in life associated with survival, longevity, health, and reproduction. We studied two TL measurements, one at birth (TLB) and another during the first lactation (TLFL) of a cow. We performed a genome-wide association study of dairy cattle TL, the first in a non-human species, and found that TLB and TLFL are complex, polygenic, moderately heritable, and highly correlated traits. However, genomic associations with distinct chromosomal regions were identified for the two traits suggesting that their genomic architecture is not identical. This is reflected in changes in TL throughout an individual’s life. TLB had a significant association with survival, length of productive life and future health status of the animal, and could be potentially used as an early-life biomarker for disease predisposition and longevity in dairy cattle.

Citation

Ilska-Warner, J. J., Psifidi, A., Seeker, L. A., Wilbourn, R. V., Underwood, S. L., Fairlie, J., …Banos, G. (2019). The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness. Frontiers in Genetics, 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01048

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 30, 2019
Publication Date Oct 25, 2019
Deposit Date Nov 5, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Frontiers in Genetics
Publisher Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 10
DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01048
Public URL https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1379984

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