title: Polymorphisms and genes associated with puberty in heifers.
abstract: Puberty onset is a multifactorial process influenced by genetic determinants and environmental conditions, especially nutritional status. Genes, genetic variations, and regulatory networks compose the molecular basis of achieving puberty. In this article, we reviewed the discovery of multiple polymorphisms and genes associated with heifer puberty phenotypes and discuss the opportunities to use this evolving knowledge of genetic determinants for breeding early pubertal Bos indicus-influenced cattle. The discovery of polymorphisms and genes was mainly achieved through candidate gene studies, quantitative trait loci analyses, genome-wide association studies, and recently, global gene expression studies (transcriptome). These studies are recapitulated and summarized in the current review.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. Electronic address: m.fortes@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marina R S
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fortes
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Loan To
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Laercio R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Porto Neto
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reverter
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Sigrid A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Milton G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Bovine; Genetic markers; Genome-wide studies; PENK; Puberty