title: Genome-wide association study for backfat thickness in Canchim beef cattle using Random Forest approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meat quality involves many traits, such as marbling, tenderness, juiciness, and backfat thickness, all of which require attention from livestock producers. Backfat thickness improvement by means of traditional selection techniques in Canchim beef cattle has been challenging due to its low heritability, and it is measured late in an animal's life. Therefore, the implementation of new methodologies for identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to backfat thickness are an important strategy for genetic improvement of carcass and meat quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The set of SNPs identified by the random forest approach explained as much as 50% of the deregressed estimated breeding value (dEBV) variance associated with backfat thickness, and a small set of 5 SNPs were able to explain 34% of the dEBV for backfat thickness. Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fat-related traits were found in the surrounding areas of the SNPs, as well as many genes with roles in lipid metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provided a better understanding of the backfat deposition and regulation pathways, and can be considered a starting point for future implementation of a genomic selection program for backfat thickness in Canchim beef cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 235, PO BOX 676, 13565-905, São Carlos, Brazil. fabiana_barichello@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Fabiana Barichello
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Mokry
authors.forename: Roberto Hiroshi
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Alvarenga Mudadu
authors.forename: Andressa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveira de Lima
authors.forename: Sarah Laguna Conceição
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.forename: Marcos Vinicius Gualberto
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Barbosa da Silva
authors.forename: Fernando Flores
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgado de Oliveira
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Urbinati
authors.forename: Simone Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Méo Niciura
authors.forename: Rymer Ramiz
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Tullio
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mello de Alencar
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Correia de Almeida Regitano
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011786:Quality Control