Whole genome sequencing of three breeds of Iranian sheep
In the sheep breeding industry, heat stress caused by the general increase in global temperature has become a significant issue, having both direct and indirect effects on animal health and productivity. The identification of effective pathways for responding to heat stress and immune responses, as well as the discovery of related genes, can improve the production and sustainability of genetic diversity in this area. Therefore, in the recent study, an attempt was made to discover the genes related to adaptation to hot and dry climate and also to investigate the genetic structure of the native sheep population of Iran. Our research can be applied to genetically improve heat tolerance in challenging environments, particularly for small ruminants.