Current insights into the molecular genetic basis of dwarfism in livestock.
Abstract: Impairment of bone growth at a young age leads to dwarfism in adulthood. Dwarfism can be categorised as either proportionate, an overall size reduction without changes in body proportions, or disproportionate, a size reduction in one or more limbs, with changes in body proportions. Many forms of dwarfism are inherited and result from structural disruptions or disrupted signalling pathways. Hormonal disruptions are evident in Brooksville miniature Brahman cattle and Z-linked dwarfism in chickens, caused by mutations in GH1 and GHR. Furthermore, mutations in IHH are the underlying cause of creeper achondroplasia in chickens. Belgian blue cattle display proportionate dwarfism caused by a mutation in RNF11, while American Angus cattle dwarfism is caused by a mutation in PRKG2. Mutations in EVC2 are associated with dwarfism in Japanese brown cattle and Tyrolean grey cattle. Fleckvieh dwarfism is caused by mutations in the GON4L gene. Mutations in COL10A1 and COL2A1 cause dwarfism in pigs and Holstein cattle, both associated with structural disruptions, while several mutations in ACAN are associated with bulldog-type dwarfism in Dexter cattle and dwarfism in American miniature horses. In other equine breeds, such as Shetland ponies and Friesian horses, dwarfism is caused by mutations in SHOX and B4GALT7. In Texel sheep, chondrodysplasia is associated with a deletion in SLC13A1. This review discusses genes known to be involved in these and other forms of dwarfism in livestock.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-06-02 PubMed ID: 28697878DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.05.014Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article provides an extensive review of the genetic causes of dwarfism in various species of livestock, looking at the different mutations in specific genes that often result in disproportioned or proportioned dwarfism.
Introduction to Dwarfism in Livestock
- Dwarfism in livestock is an impairment of bone growth at a young age, leading to significantly smaller adult size. It is often a result of structural disruptions or disrupted signalling pathways in the animal’s genes.
- There are two categories of dwarfism, proportionate and disproportionate. Proportionate dwarfism involves an overall size reduction without changes in body proportions, while disproportionate dwarfism affects specific limbs more disproportionately.
Dwarfism and Hormonal Disruptions
- In some animals, dwarfism is related to hormonal disruptions. The article cites examples of this in Brooksville miniature Brahman cattle and Z-linked dwarfism in chickens. In the former, the dwarfism is caused by mutations in the GH1 gene, and in the latter, the GHR gene.
Mutations Leading to Dwarfism
- Different gene mutations are associated with dwarfism in various breeds of livestock. Mutations in the IHH gene cause creeper achondroplasia in chickens, while mutations in the RNF11 gene result in proportionate dwarfism in Belgian blue cattle.
- In American Angus cattle, dwarfism is caused by a mutation in the PRKG2 gene. On the other hand, Japanese brown cattle and Tyrolean grey cattle experience dwarfism due to mutations in the EVC2 gene.
- Regarding pigs and Holstein cattle, dwarfism is often due to mutations in the COL10A1 and COL2A1 genes, respectively, both associated with structural disruptions.
Dwarfism in Different Equine Breeds
- Different equine breeds experience dwarfism due to mutations in varying genes. For instance, American miniature horses experience dwarfism due to several mutations in the ACAN gene, while Shetland ponies and Friesian horses‘ dwarfism is caused by mutations in the SHOX and B4GALT7 genes, respectively.
Dwarfism in Sheep
- For Texel sheep, a breed known for its chondrodysplasia, a form of dwarfism characterized by shortening of the limbs, this is associated with a deletion in the SLC13A1 gene.
Conclusion
- In conclusion, the research article provides a thorough review of the genetic basis of dwarfism in livestock—summarizing the various gene mutations associated with dwarfism in different breeds of livestock.
Cite This Article
APA
Boegheim IJM, Leegwater PAJ, van Lith HA, Back W.
(2017).
Current insights into the molecular genetic basis of dwarfism in livestock.
Vet J, 224, 64-75.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.05.014 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Division of Animal Welfare and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, NL-3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: W.Back@uu.nl.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Diseases, Developmental / genetics
- Bone Diseases, Developmental / veterinary
- Breeding
- Cattle / genetics
- Cattle Diseases / genetics
- Chickens / genetics
- Dwarfism / genetics
- Dwarfism / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horses
- Livestock / genetics
- Livestock / growth & development
- Mutation
- Phenotype
- Poultry Diseases / genetics
- Signal Transduction / genetics
- Swine
- Swine Diseases / genetics
Citations
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