基于转录组测序技术筛选水貂自咬行为相关基因的研究

Mink self-biting behavior happens frequently in the artificial environment, which results in the damage of the fur quality and the decreasing of the fur grade, it has become one of the major problems of the mink industry. As a phenotypical trait, self-biting behavior is deriving from a combination effect of both genetic and environmental factors. Although previous studies showed that mink self-biting behavior is inheritable, its detailed mechanism is still unknown. With the completion of the human genome project and the diverse application of transcriptome analysis, it is not enough for single gene analysis. Multiple gene networks and allelic interactions could provide more information about the genetic mechanism of mink self-biting behavior. In the current study, gene expression of the mink self-biting behavior will be profiled, gene network will be established and then regulatory mechanisms of these genes will be well characterized. The results will finally help to capture the major genes associated with the self-biting behavior, which will help to illustrate the genetic mechanisms and to lay the theoretical foundation of oriented genetic selection on building up good mink families in the future.

人工环境下水貂自咬行为频频发生，导致水貂皮张的损坏，等级下降，直接影响养殖者的经济效益，已成为水貂养殖业中的突出问题之一。水貂自咬行为作为表型性状是环境与遗传共同作用的结果，已有试验结果表明，自咬行为存在继代遗传，但其遗传发生机制尚未彻底阐明。伴随着人类基因组计划的完成，转录组学等逐渐被广泛应用，我们认为对于自咬行为的研究不应仅仅局限于单个基因的探讨，而应更多的关注基因间或位点间的相互作用，为揭示水貂自咬行为发生的遗传机制提供理论依据。因此，本研究拟采用转录组测序技术来研究影响水貂自咬行为表现的基因表达谱，进而构建基因表达调控网络，建立基因间的各种调控关系，以期找到影响水貂自咬行为的关键基因，揭示其遗传机制，为未来水貂的定向遗传选择、建立健康的水貂家系组群奠定理论基础。

人工环境下水貂自咬行为频频发生，导致水貂皮张的损坏，等级下降，直接影响养殖者的经济效益，已成为水貂养殖业中的突出问题之一。水貂自咬行为作为表型性状是环境与遗传共同作用的结果，已有试验结果表明，自咬行为存在继代遗传，但其遗传发生机制尚未彻底阐明。伴随着人类基因组计划的完成，高通量测序技术被广泛应用。为揭示水貂自咬行为发生的遗传机制，本研究通过转录组测序技术在不同世代、不同性别的健康水貂与自咬水貂之间筛选出3527个差异表达基因，然后利用WGCNA方法构建了差异基因的共表达调控网络，并结合基因模块的GO功能富集以及核心基因的分析，确定了18个可能影响水貂自咬行为的候选基因。本项目的研究结果为健康水貂的定向遗传选择、建立优质水貂家系组群提供了参考依据。