Research on Epigenetics and 3D Genomes in Animal Breeding

Dear Colleagues,

Epigenetic and 3D genomics have emerged as promising research areas in livestock breeding. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, and histone modifications play important roles in the transcriptional regulation of and variations in economic traits. Elucidating the epigenetic mechanisms underlying gene expression regulation in livestock species could benefit the development of epigenetic markers and potential epigenetic therapies for improving animal productivity. The 3D structure of the genome also plays a crucial role in gene expression regulation. Advances in technologies such as Hi-C have allowed for the investigation of the spatial organization of the genome, revealing the potential impact of chromatin conformation on gene expression and complex trait variation. The study of the 3D genome in livestock species has the potential to uncover new mechanisms underlying complex traits and inform breeding strategies.

This Special Issue in Genes on “Research on Epigenetics and 3D Genomes in Animal Breeding” aims to highlight the latest research findings in epigenetic and 3D genome studies on livestock species. Research articles and short communications are invited to provide insights into the biological consequences of epigenetic and 3D genome modifications on complex traits, as well as their translation into breeding strategies for improved animal production.

Dr. Xiukai Cao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.