Genome-wide analysis of the genetic diversity of native sheep breeds and determination of potential selection signatures for climate change adaptation
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The utilization of indigenous sheep breeds has the potential to contribute to the mitigation of climate change's impact on the global availability of animal protein. The examination of the genomic architecture of indigenous sheep in relation to climate change facilitates the identification of genetic diversity and adaptability hotspots, which can contribute to the enhancement of conservation efforts for animal genetic resources. Using ovine50K SNP chips of 832 samples from 32 breeds from various climatic zones, the genomic insight of native sheep breeds sampled from different climatic zones is presented, a finding that can be utilized in the development of climate specific adapted sheep breeds. Results of this study underscore that, although the breeds under study exhibit significant genetic diversity, there is an alarming decline in this diversity, as evidenced by the effective population size. African breeds distinctly positioned themselves on one facet of PCA 1, without any overlap, signifying their unique genomic structures. Conversely, European indigenous sheep breeds display a rich genetic variation; however, a pronounced admixture was noted in several breeds, compromising their genetic distinctiveness. While the studied breeds exhibited some levels of inbreeding, analysis runs of homozygosity (ROH) patterns suggest that these breeds past ancestral inbreeding events may be more influential than recent ones. This was shown by deficiency of long ROHs (24-48 and > 48 mb). Also, the ROH patterns showed that these breeds underwent different historical development stages. Over 400 genes were potentially linked to climate change adaptation. Intriguingly, the majority of these genes are exclusive to specific climate-based populations, underscoring the unique adaptive capacities inherent to each studied group. Notably, a significant proportion of these genes are associated with immune responses, emphasizing the imperative of breeding disease-resistant livestock in the current context of climate change. Analysis of landscape genomics revealed that rainfall and temperature are likely drivers of adaptation in these population. Interestingly, nine genes (HLF, ATP5MC2, SCD5, GSTA1, STAT1, TARBP2, ADIG, PLIN1, ABHD5) with diverse functions related to immunity, growth, and development were found to be located near SNPs that were significantly associated with these climatic variables. This study reinforces the notion that while indigenous sheep breeds retain substantial genetic diversity, it is diminishing, potentially due to suboptimal genetic management or admixture events. Furthermore, our findings highlight the innate capability of native sheep breeds to adapt to climatic change, positioning them as invaluable resources for breeding traits associated with climate resilience, thereby enhancing the overall robustness of sheep populations.