TLDR Certain genetic variations in the FST gene are linked to better wool quality in Chinese Merino sheep.
In 2017, a study involving 744 Chinese Merino sheep investigated the relationship between the Follistatin (FST) gene and wool quality. The researchers identified seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FST gene, with SNP2 and SNP4 significantly associated with wool quality traits such as average wool fiber diameter, wool fineness SD, CV of fiber diameter, and wool crimp. The FST gene was found to be differentially expressed in adult skin between Chinese Merino sheep and Suffolk sheep, suggesting that variations in FST gene expression may contribute to differences in wool quality. The study concluded that the FST gene and its polymorphisms, particularly SNPs 2 and 4, could be useful markers for improving wool quality in sheep breeding programs.
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