title: Application of epigenetic markers in molecular breeding of the swine.
abstract: Livestock phenotypes are determined by the interaction of a variety of factors, including the genome, the epigenome and the environment. Epigenetics refers to gene expression changes without DNA sequence alterations. Epigenetic markers mainly include DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and imprinting genes. More and more researches show that epigenetic markers play an important role in the traits of pigs by modulating phenotype changes via gene expression. However, the role of epigenetic markers has caught little attention in swine breeding. The mechanism that influences important traits of swine has not been analyzed in detail, and it still lacks adequate scientific basis for practical applications. From the aspects of nutrition, diseases, important economic traits and trans-generational inheritance, we summarize the research, application prospects and challenges in the field of utilizing epigenetic markers in molecular breeding of pigs, thus providing a more comprehensive theoretical basis to promote more rapid research development in this field.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Sichuan TQLS Animal Husbandry Science and Technology Co.,LTD, Mianyang 621000, China.
authors.forename: Guang-de
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Bao-yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Ming-xing
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Ping-qing
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001947:Breeding; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers