Advances in Veterinary Genetics and Genomics

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 July 2026 | Viewed by 2594

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: forensic animal genetics; population genetics; sex determination in wild animals; fetal sex detected by cell-free DNA; epigenetic-based age estimation; LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) method

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
2. National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Interests: veterinary microbiology; pathogenetics; infectious diseases; sequencing techniques
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Veterinary genetics and genomics are rapidly evolving fields. This progress reflects a growing recognition that understanding the genome is key to improving animal health, welfare, and productivity. However, we are only beginning to appreciate the complexity and potential of applying genetic technologies in veterinary science.

Recent advances in genomic tools, such as high-throughput sequencing, genome-wide association studies, and CRISPR-based editing, have opened new avenues for understanding hereditary diseases, improving selective breeding, and supporting wildlife conservation. In parallel, developments in epigenetics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics are adding layers of insight into gene regulation, host–pathogen interactions, and environmental adaptation in animals. Veterinary genomics is no longer limited to livestock and companion animals—it also plays a crucial role in biodiversity preservation and forensic investigations.

The emerging complexity of genomic research in veterinary contexts suggests that different approaches—whether diagnostic, evolutionary, or therapeutic—are not necessarily competing but complementary. Together, they enrich our understanding of the genomic architecture of health and disease across species.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research, reviews, and methodological innovations that explore the broad applications of genetics and genomics in veterinary science. We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Petra Zenke
Dr. Enikő Fehér
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • veterinary genetics
  • animal genomics
  • infectious diseases and disease resistance
  • pathogenetics
  • genomic selection and livestock improvement
  • conservation genetics
  • epigenetics
  • CRISPR gene editing
  • next-generation sequencing (NGS)
  • forensic genetics
  • LAMP method

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 889 KB  
Article
Deciphering Genetic Architecture of Feed Conversion Ratio and Growth Traits in Yorkshire Pig
by Changguang Lin, Qiuyong Chen, Yaxuan Liu, Wei Cai, Tao Huang, Yi Zhou, Jinyu Lin, Lunjiang Zhou and Xinzhu Chen
Genes 2026, 17(3), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17030289 - 27 Feb 2026
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Background: Pigs are one of the most important livestock species for providing meat products in the world. Deciphering the genetic architecture of feed efficiency-related traits is beneficial to improve the genetic progress of these traits and save the total cost of pork production. [...] Read more.
Background: Pigs are one of the most important livestock species for providing meat products in the world. Deciphering the genetic architecture of feed efficiency-related traits is beneficial to improve the genetic progress of these traits and save the total cost of pork production. However, the genetic architecture of feed efficiency-related traits remains unclear. Methods: To address this problem, we collected 1301 genotyped Yorkshire pigs with three feed efficiency-related traits, including days at 100 kg (DAYS_100), backfat thickness at 100 kg (BFT_100), and feed conversion ratio from 30 to 100 kg (FCR_30_100), to explore the genetic parameters and genetic basis of these traits. Results: The heritability of DAYS_100, BFT_100, and FCR_30_100 was 0.25 ± 0.04, 0.40 ± 0.05, and 0.23 ± 0.04, respectively. Additionally, BFT_100 and DAYS_100 had a weak negative genetic correlation (−0.01 ± 0.12), while trait FCR_30_100 showed a positive genetic correlation with DAYS_100 (0.51 ± 0.11) and BFT_100 (0.28 ± 0.12). A genome-wide association study identified 7, 5, and 4 SNPs independently associated with BFT_100, DAYS_100, and FCR_30_100, respectively. Further analysis found that the candidate gene ETV4 was significantly associated with DAYS_100 and the candidate gene ENSSSCG00000045751 was associated with FCR_30_100. The functional annotation of candidate genes was enriched in the bile acid metabolic process and protein ubiquitination terms. Conclusions: This study discovered 16 quantitative trait loci associated with feed efficiency-related traits, providing a comprehensive insight for understanding the genetic basis of feed efficiency-related traits in pigs. The candidate genes, such as ETV4 gene in DAYS_100, CAMK1D gene for BFT_100, and ENSSSCG00000045751 gene for FCR_30_100, could be used for further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Veterinary Genetics and Genomics)
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15 pages, 2531 KB  
Article
Germline Variant Call Accuracy in Whole Genome Sequence Data from Canine Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Samples
by Vidhya Jagannathan and Tosso Leeb
Genes 2025, 16(11), 1371; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16111371 - 11 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Fresh frozen (FF) samples are routinely used to isolate high-molecular-weight intact genomic DNA. However, when FF samples are not available, archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples often represent the only available material in clinical research. Due to formaldehyde-induced degradation of nucleic acids [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Fresh frozen (FF) samples are routinely used to isolate high-molecular-weight intact genomic DNA. However, when FF samples are not available, archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples often represent the only available material in clinical research. Due to formaldehyde-induced degradation of nucleic acids they pose special challenges for genetic investigations. In this study we compare whole-genome sequencing results on intact DNA versus fragmented DNA derived from FFPE samples of three dogs. Methods: We prepared matched libraries from FF and FFPE samples of three dogs affected by an inherited disease, EFNB3-related congenital mirror movement disorder 1 (CMM1). Paired-end short-read sequencing data were obtained on an Illumina sequencer and analyzed with adapted workflows for FF or FFPE data, respectively. Results: The data between FF and FFPE samples were largely consistent. FF data showed a superior variant call accuracy, as expected. However, the data quality from the FFPE samples was sufficient to correctly identify the causal variant in EFNB3. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using FFPE samples from dogs for whole-genome sequencing and the detection of germline variants. Using FFPE samples in the analysis of suspected inherited diseases in domestic animals may represent a valuable approach in veterinary genetics if no other samples are available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Veterinary Genetics and Genomics)
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