Frontiers in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-03-19eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1544330
Ming-Di Li, Hu-Rong Li, Shao-Hui Ye
{"title":"Multi-tissue transcriptomic characterization of endogenous retrovirus-derived transcripts in <i>Capra hircus</i>.","authors":"Ming-Di Li, Hu-Rong Li, Shao-Hui Ye","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1544330","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1544330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Transposable elements (TEs, or transposons) are repetitive genomic sequences, accounting for half of a mammal genome. Most TEs are transcriptionally silenced, whereas some TEs, especially endogenous retroviruses (ERVs, long terminal repeat retrotransposons), are physiologically expressed in certain conditions. However, the expression pattern of TEs in those less studied species, like goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>), remains unclear. To obtain an overview of the genomic and transcriptomic features of TEs and ERVs in goat, an important farm species, we herein analyzed transcriptomes of ten <i>C. hircus</i> tissues and cells under various physiological and pathological conditions.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Distribution of classes, families, and subfamilies of TEs in the <i>C. hircus</i> genome were systematically annotated. The expression patterns of TE-derived transcripts in multiple tissues were investigated at subfamily and location levels. Differential expression of ERV-derived reads was measured under various physiological and pathological conditions, such as embryo development and virus infection challenges. Co-expression between ERV-reads and their proximal genes was also explored to decipher the expression regulation of ERV-derived transcripts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There are around 800 TE subfamilies in the goat genome, accounting for 49.1% of the goat genome sequence. TE-derived reads account for 10% of the transcriptome and their abundance are comparable in various goat tissues, while expression of ERVs are variable among tissues. We further characterized expression pattern of ERV reads in various tissues. Differential expression analysis showed that ERVs are highly active in 16-cell embryos, when the genome of the zygote begins to transcribe its own genes. We also recognized numerous activated ERV reads in response to RNA virus infection in lung, spleen, caecum, and immune cells. CapAeg_1.233:ERVK in chromosome 1 and 17 are dysregulated under endometrium development and infection conditions. They showed strong co-expression with their proximal gene <i>OAS1</i> and <i>TMPRSS2</i>, indicating the impact of activated proximal gene expression on nearby ERVs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We generated ERV transcriptomes across goat tissues, and identified ERVs activated in response to different physiological and pathological conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1544330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11962033/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-03-19eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1535732
Claudia-Ioana Fifirig, Sabu Abraham, Bernard Keavney, Kathryn E Hentges
{"title":"Congenital heart disease presentations in the 15q11.2 microdeletion syndrome.","authors":"Claudia-Ioana Fifirig, Sabu Abraham, Bernard Keavney, Kathryn E Hentges","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1535732","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1535732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect and results from anomalies in the cardiogenesis process. There are multiple genetic mechanisms contributing to CHD, including copy number variants (CNVs). One such CNV is the 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) microdeletion, which contains four evolutionarily conserved genes: <i>NIPA1</i>, <i>NIPA2</i>, <i>CYFIP1,</i> and <i>TUBGCP5</i>. The deletion causes a syndrome which includes developmental delays and multiple anatomical malformations including CHD. The link between the 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) microdeletion and CHD has been previously described in the literature but not explored in terms of mechanistic investigations. The characteristics of the BP1-BP2 deletion also prove challenging in the context of genetic counselling. Here we discuss the 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) microdeletion syndrome with a focus on CHD.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1535732"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11962122/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review of the role and potential clinical value of m6A methylation modifications in the biological process of osteosarcoma.","authors":"Huaqiang Zhou, Rongbing Shu, Jianming Wu, Jiangjun Zhou, Zhuanyi Yu, Qiuxin Cheng, Zhihao Peng, Min Zhao","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1522622","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1522622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteosarcoma (OS), an aggressive bone tumor, is a substantial threat to the quality of life and survival of affected individuals. Despite recent improvements in OS therapies, the considerable variability and chemotherapy resistance of this cancer necessitate continuous research to discover new treatment targets and biomarkers. Recent epigenetic advances highlight the crucial role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation in cancer. In OS, m6A methylation has been demonstrated to be a pivotal component in the pathogenesis. This review introduces new findings regarding the association between m6A methylation regulators and OS, and summarizes the potential clinical applications of OS and m6A methylation regulators, including the role of m6A methylation in OS proliferation, growth, apoptosis, and cell migration, invasion, and metastasis; relationship between m6A methylation and OS chemotherapy resistance; and relationship between m6A methylation and OS prognosis. Our review had certain limitations. The interaction between m6A methylation regulators and other oncogenic factors, such as lncRNAs and ncRNAs, is not fully understood. We hope that these potential methods will be translated into clinical applications and effective treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1522622"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11961878/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing wheat β-glucan content through precision crossbreeding: development and evaluation of biofortified lines with improved nutritional and agronomic traits.","authors":"Upendra Kumar, Sourav Panigrahi, Rita Goswami, Yogita Singh, Priyanka Balyan, Prexha Kapoor, Sundip Kumar, Krishna Pal Singh, Farkhandah Jan, Reyazul Rouf Mir","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1532956","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1532956","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> To address the urgent demand for biofortified wheat enriched with health-beneficial dietary fibres such as β-glucan, this study employed meticulous crossbreeding between established wheat cultivars and the β-glucan-rich wild relative <i>Aegilops kotschyi</i> accession \"AK-3790\". <b>Methods:</b> Within this context, a derivative line encompassing a pair of 7U chromosomes from <i>Ae. Kotschyi</i>, denoted as 63-2-13, was identified. The presence of the 7U chromosome in this line was confirmed through comprehensive molecular marker and genomic <i>in situ</i> hybridization (GISH) analyses. With the aim of increasing the β-glucan content in hexaploid wheat, two distinct backcross populations were developed utilizing the 63-2-13 line as the donor parent and two separate recurrent parents (WH1105 and HD3086). These populations underwent an exact selection regimen, encompassing parent-like phenotypes, heightened yield, and robust resistance to yellow rust, meticulously tracked across successive generations until the BC<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2:3</sub> stage. <b>Results and Discussion:</b> Notably, among the outcomes, selected BC<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2:3</sub> progenies presented remarkable increases in β-glucan levels, with a notable increase (BC<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2:3</sub> 23-5) resulting in an impressive increase in the 1.76% grain β-glucan content. Despite a discernible reduction in yield compared with their high-yielding counterparts, BC<sub>2</sub>F<sub>2:3</sub> 23-5 demonstrated a harmonious trait profile, encompassing heightened β-glucan content and moderate yellow rust resistance, thus positioning it as a compelling candidate for subsequent refinement endeavors. This research notably underscores the substantial potential of precise introgression strategies for increasing the β-glucan content in wheat, thereby underscoring the imperative of adept trait optimization to ensure both yield stability and nutritional enhancement.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1532956"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11961656/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-03-19eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1465527
Jingqun Mai, Zhu Zhang, Bocheng Xu, Shanling Liu, He Wang, Hao Wang, Shuo Yang
{"title":"Case report: Inflammatory bowel disease in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 3 due to novel variant in HPS3.","authors":"Jingqun Mai, Zhu Zhang, Bocheng Xu, Shanling Liu, He Wang, Hao Wang, Shuo Yang","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1465527","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1465527","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, and other specific subtypes such as colitis. HPS3 is caused by biallelic mutations in <i>HPS3</i>. Patients with HPS3 have milder symptoms and were rarely reported to be involved in digestive disorders.</p><p><strong>Case summary: </strong>We report a case of an 11-year-old male patient who experienced chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain for a duration of 1 year, in the absence of identifiable predisposing factors. Colonoscopy and histopathological evaluations revealed extensive colonic inflammation characterized by erosion and lymphoid hyperplasia. Given the concurrent presence of albinism, horizontal nystagmus, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), molecular genetic testing was conducted, which is consistent with a diagnosis of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). Trio-based whole-exome sequencing (Trio-WES) identified a novel homozygous nonsense variant (NM_032383.5; c.2887G > T, p.E963*) in <i>HPS3</i>, leading to premature termination codons and aberrant splicing-mediated mRNA decay. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and mercaptopurine for management of IBD symptoms and has been attending follow-up appointments. Currently, the patient is in clinical remission; however, there remains a potential risk of relapse.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We present a rare case of HPS-related IBD resulting from a homozygous variant in <i>HPS3</i> and provide insights into the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of HPS3.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1465527"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11961956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-03-19eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1507315
Johanna Ramírez-Díaz, Tania Bobbo, Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Anna A Schönherz, Paolo Cozzi, Szilvia Kusza, Goutam Sahana, Alessandra Stella, Arianna Manunza
{"title":"Exploring the complex population structure and admixture of four local Hungarian sheep breeds.","authors":"Johanna Ramírez-Díaz, Tania Bobbo, Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Anna A Schönherz, Paolo Cozzi, Szilvia Kusza, Goutam Sahana, Alessandra Stella, Arianna Manunza","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1507315","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1507315","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The origin of sheep and their spread following domestication have been widely investigated using archaeology, genetics, and genomics. A thorough investigation of the genetic diversity of the breeds is key to providing useful information for conservation and breeding programmes. In Hungary, sheep farming contributes to the agricultural sector and national economy. It plays a crucial role in rural livelihoods, exports, and environmental management while also contributing to the national economy and preserving Hungary's cultural and agricultural heritage through traditional breeds. This study aims to analyse the population structure and patterns of admixture in four local Hungarian sheep breeds, namely, Indigenous Tsigai, Hortobagyi Racka, Cikta, and Bábolna Tetra. Our results revealed that the indigenous Hungarian Hortobagyi Racka sheep are distinct from the other Hungarian breeds studied. The effective population sizes were found to be low, with varying levels of genomic inbreeding both within and across breeds. These results align with documented bottlenecks and instances of crossbreeding with other local or improved breeds. Ancestry analysis demonstrated some introgression between Scandinavian and Hungarian sheep breeds and <i>vice versa</i>. This gene flow may have occurred recently due to the widespread use of northern breeds such as Finnsheep and Romanov to enhance productivity, but it could also date back much further. Despite some limitations, our outcomes can contribute to future conservation plans, and a more comprehensive analysis of all native Hungarian sheep breeds should be highlighted to the relevant authorities in order to secure further funds.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1507315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11962792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Functional analysis of a novel <i>FBN1</i> deep intronic variant causing Marfan syndrome in a Chinese patient.","authors":"Qingming Wang, Fang Zhang, Xinlong Zhou, Hui Li, Juan Zhao, Haiming Yuan","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1564824","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1564824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Marfan syndrome (MFS MIM#154700), due to pathogenic variants in the <i>FBN1</i> gene, is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder, typically involving the skeletal, cardiovascular and ocular systems. Currently, over 3000 MFS patients were reported, and approximately 1800 pathogenic variants in <i>FBN1</i> were identified. However, the molecular diagnosis still remains challenging for 8%-10% of patients with clinical features suggestive of MFS. In this study, we reported a 2-month-old Chinese female patient whose clinical features were compatible with the MFS. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a novel <i>de novo</i> deep intronic variant, c.4943-8_4943-7insTATGTGATATTCAT TCAC in intron 40 of <i>FBN1</i> that was predicted to affect the RNA splicing. Minigene analysis showed that this variant causes skipping of exon 41, leading to the deletion of 41 amino acids (c.4943_5065del, p.Val1649_Asp1689del). It confirmed the pathogenic nature of the variant and established the genotype-phenotype relationship. Our study expands the mutation spectrum of <i>FBN1</i> and emphasizes the importance of deep intronic variant interpretation and the need for additional functional studies to verify the pathogenicity of these variants.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1564824"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11962022/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-03-18eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1549602
Qing Zhao, Songping Cui, Bin Hu, Shuo Chen
{"title":"Retrospective analysis of inflammatory biomarkers and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer without adenocarcinoma in situ.","authors":"Qing Zhao, Songping Cui, Bin Hu, Shuo Chen","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1549602","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1549602","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inflammatory biomarkers have shown prognostic value in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), but the inclusion of Adenocarcinoma <i>In Situ</i> (AIS) cases in previous studies may introduce bias. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers in NSCLC while excluding AIS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included patients who received surgery for lung carcinoma from August 2016 and August 2019. We collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome information. Inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox regression to assess their prognostic value.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers correlated with poorer survival, with significant differences in overall survival (OS) between high- and low-expression groups. However, multivariate Cox regression identified age, tumor stage, and differentiation as independent prognostic factors, while biomarkers were not independently predictive.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Inflammatory biomarkers have short-term prognostic value in invasive NSCLC, but traditional clinical and pathological factors remain key for long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1549602"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11959042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-03-18eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1535730
M P Ramoroka, M D MacNeil, F W C Neser, S F Lashmar, M L Makgahlela
{"title":"Genetic diversity and population structure of non-descript cattle in South African smallholder systems.","authors":"M P Ramoroka, M D MacNeil, F W C Neser, S F Lashmar, M L Makgahlela","doi":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1535730","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgene.2025.1535730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The genetic background and characteristics of South African smallholder cattle populations remain largely unknown. These cattle exhibit remarkable adaptability to challenging environments with minimal inputs from farmers, making them a valuable genetic resource for sustainable farming. This study aimed to genetically characterize non-descript cattle kept in smallholding systems using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 188 non-descript smallholder beef cattle were sampled from seven South African provinces; Eastern Cape (n = 27), Free State (n = 28), Gauteng (n = 13), KwaZulu-Natal (n = 29), Limpopo (n = 34), North West (n = 44) and Northern Cape (n = 10). In addition, samples were obtained from Afrikaner (n = 42), Bonsmara (BON; n = 46), Boran (n = 20), Brahman (n = 96), Drakensberger (n = 25), Hereford (n = 31), Holstein (HOL; n = 29), Nguni (n = 59) and Shorthorn (n = 35) to serve as reference populations. Quality control of the original SNP data removed less informative animals and SNPs, which resulted in a final data set consisting of 185 animals and 119,392 SNPs. Principal coordinate analysis, ancestry, and genomic diversity statistics revealed moderate to high levels of diversity within smallholder cattle and substantial relationship with commercial beef cattle (i.e., Afrikaner, Bonsmara, Brahman, Drakensberger, Hereford, Holstein and Nguni). In North West province, there was tendency towards greater influence of Bonsmara, whereas in KwaZulu Natal the cattle were more closely related to Holstein. The smallholder populations were shown not to be unique, likely due to indiscriminate hybridization with the commercial breeds. Among the provinces, estimates of observed heterozygosity (H<sub>O</sub>) ranged from 0.328 ± 0.001 to 0.395 ± 0.001, while expected heterozygosity (H<sub>E</sub>) ranged from 0.326 ± 0.001 to 0.389 ± 0.000. Inbreeding levels were low, with (mean ± standard error) per-province inbreeding coefficients (F<sub>IS</sub>) ranging from -0.023 ± 0.009 to 0.133 ± 0.0254. The low F<sub>ROH</sub> (<0.05) across all populations indicate a more diverse population, which is less likely to express deleterious recessive traits. Estimates of the population differentiation fixation index (F<sub>ST</sub>) indicated greater genetic distance between animals from KwaZulu natal and Gauteng provinces (F<sub>ST</sub> = 0.083) and less distance between the animals from Eastern Cape and Free State provinces (F<sub>ST</sub> = 0.010), suggesting a closer genetic relationship probably as a result of the proximity of the latter provinces and hence trans-boundary use of bulls. These findings suggest indiscriminate crossbreeding in smallholder cattle within and across the provinces of South Africa. The results provide foundational information for the transfer of technology for targeted breeding programs to smallholder farmers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12750,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Genetics","volume":"16 ","pages":"1535730"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11960657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}