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Advances in Animal Molecular Genetics

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2895

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jarosław Króliczewski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Biology, Institute of Biology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: animal genetics; animal breeding; miRNA functional analysis; cancers; animal disease; genome-wide association analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Jarosław Króliczewski and assisted by Dr. Bozena Anna Marszałek-Kruk.

Recent advancements in molecular genetics have significantly improved our comprehension of the genetic framework controlling animal health, production, and adaptation. The advancement of high-quality reference genomes, next-generation sequencing technologies, and genome editing methods has facilitated the accurate characterisation of genetic diversity, functional annotation of genomes, and analysis of complex features across numerous species.

Contemporary research increasingly integrates genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic data, providing systems-level insights into fundamental biological processes, including growth, reproduction, immunity, and disease resistance. Innovative methodologies, like single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, are enhancing our capacity to investigate gene regulation at both cellular and tissue levels.

We invite researchers to submit original research articles and thorough reviews for the Special Issue entitled “Advances in Animal Molecular Genetics”. This issue seeks to demonstrate current advancements in clarifying the genetic foundations of essential biological processes in animals and to highlight pioneering techniques that are influencing the future of animal research.

Areas of interest encompass, but are not restricted to, the following:

  • Genome assembly, annotation, and comparative genomics;
  • Identification and functional analysis of genetic variants;
  • Integrative multi-omics methodologies (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and gene expression and regulation);
  • Genetic architecture of complex traits and disease resistance;
  • Applications of genome editing and molecular breeding;
  • Progress in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in animal research.

Your contributions will demonstrate the ongoing influence of molecular genetics on the progression of animal science and enhance our ability to connect genetic data with biological function.

Dr. Jarosław Króliczewski
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • functional genomics
  • gene expression
  • gene polymorphism
  • genetic diseases
  • genetic techniques and assays
  • genome-wide association
  • genetic markers
  • quantitative genetics

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2245 KB  
Article
Identification of HMCES as the Core Genetic Determinant Underlying the xhs1 Radiosensitivity Locus in LEA/LEC Rats
by Eisuke Hishida, Masaki Watanabe, Takeru Sasaki, Tatsuya Ashida, Keisuke Shimada, Tadashi Okamura, Takashi Agui and Nobuya Sasaki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031278 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 529
Abstract
Genomic instability caused by defective DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is a key determinant of cellular radiosensitivity. The Long–Evans cinnamon (LEC) rat is a rare naturally occurring model with marked radiosensitivity, and a major quantitative trait locus, X-ray hypersensitivity 1 (xhs1), [...] Read more.
Genomic instability caused by defective DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is a key determinant of cellular radiosensitivity. The Long–Evans cinnamon (LEC) rat is a rare naturally occurring model with marked radiosensitivity, and a major quantitative trait locus, X-ray hypersensitivity 1 (xhs1), has been mapped to rat chromosome 4; however, the causal mechanism has remained unclear. Here, we investigated the cellular and molecular basis of xhs1-associated radiosensitivity using LEA and LEC rat-derived cells and human cultured cells. Exploratory RNA-seq of pre-hepatitic liver tissue identified a sequence variant within the Hmces transcript in LEC rats. Consistently, HMCES protein levels were markedly reduced in multiple tissues and liver-derived cell lines from LEC rats. Functional analyses showed that reduced HMCES activity prolonged γH2AX signaling after X-ray irradiation, indicating delayed DSB resolution. Clonogenic survival assays demonstrated increased radiosensitivity in HMCES-deficient cells, which was partially rescued by restoring HMCES expression in stable LEA/LEC lines. Moreover, pimEJ5GFP reporter assays revealed significantly decreased end-joining repair activity in HMCES-knockout human cells. Together, these results establish HMCES as a critical mediator of DSB repair and cellular radioresistance, identify HMCES dysfunction as a core genetic determinant underlying xhs1-associated radiosensitivity, and provide mechanistic insight into radiation response architecture in a naturally occurring radiosensitive model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Molecular Genetics)
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18 pages, 2507 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Characterization of the HOX Gene Family: Evolution and Expression Patterns in Donkey
by Xiaotong Liu, Anqi Liu, Muhammad Zahoor Khan, Qifei Zhu, Yunfan Zheng, Wenting Chen, Bingbing Cai, Zhiyu Yan, Yongdong Peng and Changfa Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010038 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1073
Abstract
The HOX gene family plays an indispensable role in regulating embryonic development, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis. This study employed bioinformatics approaches for systematic analysis, ultimately identifying 33 HOX gene family members from the donkey genome. Physicochemical property analysis revealed that the number of [...] Read more.
The HOX gene family plays an indispensable role in regulating embryonic development, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis. This study employed bioinformatics approaches for systematic analysis, ultimately identifying 33 HOX gene family members from the donkey genome. Physicochemical property analysis revealed that the number of amino acids encoded ranged from 94 to 444, with 31 members classified as alkaline proteins. Their secondary structure was predominantly composed of random coils and alpha helices, and all members were localized to the nucleus. Conserved motif analysis further demonstrated that all donkey HOX family proteins contained highly conserved motifs 1 and 2. Along with three other species, the 33 donkey HOX genes were clustered into eight phylogenetic subgroups. Furthermore, collinearity analysis indicated a high degree of collinearity between the donkey and horse HOX gene families. Gene Ontology analysis confirmed the significant role of the donkey HOX gene family in regulating embryonic development and skeletal system formation. Tissue expression profile analysis revealed significant differences in the expression levels of the 33 HOX genes across 13 different tissues. This study not only systematically identified and characterized the donkey HOX gene family but also provided valuable insights into the genetic regulation mechanisms of key traits in donkey molecular breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Molecular Genetics)
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Review

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37 pages, 3895 KB  
Review
Potential Applications of Genome-Wide Association Studies in Establishing Climate Resilience in Livestock: A Comprehensive Review
by Gajendirane Kalaignazhal, Mullakkalparambil Velayudhan Silpa, Chinmoy Mishra, Ebenezer Binuni Rebez, Santhi Priya Voggu, Pasuvalingam Visha, Guru D. V. Pandiyan, Artabandhu Sahoo, Christopher Browne, Umberto Bernabucci, Frank Rowland Dunshea and Veerasamy Sejian
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3498; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083498 - 14 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 783
Abstract
Given livestock’s crucial role in global food security and economic stability, the alarming threat of climate change calls for the implementation of effective mitigation strategies for climate-resilient livestock production. Management and nutritional strategies offer temporary relief, whereas genetic approaches represent a permanent solution. [...] Read more.
Given livestock’s crucial role in global food security and economic stability, the alarming threat of climate change calls for the implementation of effective mitigation strategies for climate-resilient livestock production. Management and nutritional strategies offer temporary relief, whereas genetic approaches represent a permanent solution. The role of genetic tools in enabling the development of climate-resilient livestock breeds is widely recognized. Genetic tools like microarrays, RNA-seq, omics, and GWAS can improve the understanding of livestock’s climate adaptability at a molecular level. These tools facilitate the identification of biomarkers for thermo-tolerance, bordering on climate-resilient livestock breeding. Among them, studies employing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have increased in recent years. GWAS have the potential to improve the genetic basis of thermo-tolerance in heat-stressed livestock populations. GWAS have been used to identify candidate genes for complex and economically important traits in livestock. These include growth, reproduction, disease resistance, milk, meat, and wool production traits under heat stress conditions. This makes GWAS a useful tool for identifying biomarkers that can be incorporated in breeding programs through marker-assisted selection (MAS). The integration of these potential biomarkers into selection and breeding programs would allow GWAS to substantially refine breeding strategies, thereby advancing the climate-resilient potential and sustainability of the livestock sector. Furthermore, GWAS, when utilized along with emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) for genomic prediction, can predict genetic aspects of livestock adaptation more efficiently and precisely. Thus, future studies should focus on integrated modeling approaches for improving the climate resilience of livestock without jeopardizing their production potential. Such an effort will contribute to sustainable livestock production as well as ensure food security for the growing human population amid changing climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Molecular Genetics)
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