title: Tropically adapted cattle of Africa: perspectives on potential role of copy number variations.
abstract: Africa is host to diverse and locally adapted cattle breeds that are expected to survive the harsh and extreme tropical environments associated with diseases and parasite infections, heat stress and episodes of feed and water scarcity. Genomic copy number variations (CNVs) are considered to be primary role players in cattle breed formation and adaptation where isolation and genetic drift together with subsequent mutations have created an enormous diversity of local populations. CNVs are modifications in DNA structure comprising deletions, duplications and insertions that are >1 kb in size. Despite attracting much attention, the frequency and pattern of bovine CNV events, especially in African cattle breeds, are for the most part largely unknown. Characterization of genetic variation in the indigenous cattle of Africa will be a vital step toward dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation and local adaptation. This review therefore aims to describe the current knowledge regarding bovine CNVs and the implications and potentials they encompass for dissecting genetic adaptation and the genotypic skeleton of tropical African cattle populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.|Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dzama
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: D J G
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Muchadeyi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D010641:Phenotype; D014329:Tropical Climate
keywords: diversity; genetic adaption; genomic variations; tropical African cattle