title: Genome-wide association study identifies 22 new loci for body dimension and body weight traits in a White Duroc×Erhualian F2intercross population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth-related traits are important economic traits in the swine industry. However, the genetic mechanism of growth-related traits is little known. The aim of this study was to screen the candidate genes and molecular markers associated with body dimension and body weight traits in pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A genome-wide association study (GWAS) on body dimension and body weight traits was performed in a White Duroc×Erhualian F2intercross by the illumina PorcineSNP60K Beadchip. A mixed linear model was used to assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the phenotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 611 and 79 SNPs were identified significantly associated with body dimension traits and body weight respectively. All SNPs but 62 were located into 23 genomic regions (quantitative trait loci, QTLs) on 14 autosomal and X chromosomes inSus scrofaBuild 10.2 assembly. Out of the 23 QTLs with the suggestive significance level (5×10-4), three QTLs exceeded the genome-wide significance threshold (1.15×10-6). Except the one onSus scrofachromosome (SSC) 7 which was reported previously all the QTLs are novel. In addition, we identified 5 promising candidate genes, including cell division cycle 7 for abdominal circumference, pleiomorphic adenoma gene 1 and neuropeptides B/W receptor 1 for both body weight and cannon bone circumference on SSC4, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1, and bone morphogenetic protein 7 for hip circumference on SSC17.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results have not only demonstrated a number of potential genes/loci associated with the growth-related traits in pigs, but also laid a foundation for studying the genes' role and further identifying causative variants underlying these loci.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
authors.forename: Jiuxiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
authors.forename: Lisheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
authors.forename: Yuanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
authors.forename: Lusheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
authors.forename: Junwu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: Body Dimension; Body Weight; Candidate Gene; Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS); Pig