Genome-wide association analysis of mid-body length trait in Duroc pigs
Abstract：Body length (BL) is a key economic trait affecting meat yield and growth performance in pigs. To improve the accuracy of body length measurement, this study proposed a new method for measuring 'mid-body length' starting from the midpoint between the two scapulae, and analyzed the genetic basis of this trait in Duroc pigs. Based on population phenotypic and genomic data, the heritability of mid-body length was estimated to be 0.185, indicating a moderate heritability trait. Through genome-wide association study (GWAS), two significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) influencing this trait were identified on chromosomes 9 and 12. The results showed that the association signals were stronger with genotype imputation data, with the most significant locus explaining approximately 7.97% of the phenotypic variation. Further annotation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate gene analysis identified genes such as HES7, CHD3, BORCS6, NOX4, and RAB38, which are involved in skeletal growth-related pathways including somite development, chromatin remodeling, autophagy, and redox regulation. This study provides key data for the genetic dissection of the mid-body length trait and lays a theoretical foundation for body measurement selection and molecular marker development in pigs.
Keywords：Duroc pigsmid-body length traitgenetic parametersgenome-wide association analysiscandidate genes
Publication Date：2025-12-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-07(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：11( 8-18 )