Advances in Animal Functional Genomics

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Zoology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 479

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College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Interests: bovine genetics and breeding; sustainable livestock husbandry; forage innovation and valorization
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional genomics has emerged as a cornerstone for deciphering gene-phenotype linkages in animals, driving breakthroughs in agriculture, conservation, and biomedical research. By integrating high-throughput sequencing, gene editing, and bioinformatics, this field illuminates how genetic variation shapes physiological traits, disease susceptibility, and evolutionary adaptation. We invite contributions that leverage these tools to advance our understanding of animal biology.

This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge applications of functional genomics across livestock, wildlife, and model organisms. Aligning with the journal’s focus on translational research, we seek studies that bridge molecular mechanisms to real-world outcomes, such as improved livestock resilience, wildlife conservation strategies, or novel disease models.

We welcome original research, reviews, and methods papers. Topics may include CRISPR-based functional screens, epigenomic regulation of complex traits, host–microbiome interactions, and comparative genomics of adaptation. Interdisciplinary studies combining genomics with physiology, ecology, or bioinformatics are strongly encouraged.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chugang Mei
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • functional genomics
  • gene editing
  • phenomics
  • epigenetics
  • livestock
  • conservation
  • CRISPR
  • host–microbiome interactions

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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8 pages, 625 KB  
Brief Report
A Genome-Wide Association Study of Rib Number and Thoracolumbar Vertebra Number in a Landrace × Yorkshire Crossbred Pig Population
by Chunyan Bai, Junwen Fei, Xiaoran Zhang, Wuyang Liu, Juan Ke, Changyi Chen, Yu He, Shuang Liang, Boxing Sun and Hao Sun
Biology 2025, 14(8), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14081068 - 16 Aug 2025
Viewed by 357
Abstract
The number of thoracolumbar vertebrae (NTLV) and the number of ribs (NR) are economically important traits in pigs due to their influence on carcass length and meat yield. Although VRTN is an established key gene, it fails to fully account for population-level variation [...] Read more.
The number of thoracolumbar vertebrae (NTLV) and the number of ribs (NR) are economically important traits in pigs due to their influence on carcass length and meat yield. Although VRTN is an established key gene, it fails to fully account for population-level variation in vertebral count, necessitating a further exploration of its genetic mechanisms. Given the efficacy of crossbred populations in mapping the genetic determinants of phenotypic variation, we analyzed 439 pigs from a Landrace × Yorkshire cross. Genotyping was performed via a 50 K SNP chip. Both NTLV and NR showed high heritability (0.700 and 0.752, respectively), while the number of lumbar vertebrae (NLV) showed limited variation (92.5% of pigs had NLV = 6). Using the BLINK model, four significant loci were identified. The most significant SNP, rs3469762345, located in the intergenic region between ABCD4 and VRTN, corresponds to a previously known QTL. Additionally, three novel variant sites (rs81211244, rs81347323, and rs81416674) were identified within or near the ALDH7A1, PTPRT, and PAK1 genes, which are known to play a role in bone development. This study uncovers novel swine candidate genes associated with vertebral and rib number variation, subsequently facilitating targeted research into their molecular mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Functional Genomics)
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