Resequencing and Signatures of Selective Scans Point to Candidate Genetic Variants for Hair Length Traits in Long-Haired and Normal-Haired Tianzhu White Yak

The research paper studied genetic variants influencing hair length in Tianzhu White Yak, using resequencing of the whole genome of 20 yaks (10 long-haired and 10 normal-haired). The study identified significant genetic differences between the two groups, pointing to specific genes and pathways that may be responsible for hair length variation. Two hotspots on chromosome 6 were found, annotating six genes (FGF5, CFAP299, ATP8A1, SLC30A9, SHISA3, TMEM33). Four genes (ACOXL, PDPK1, MAGEL2, CDH1) were associated with hair follicle development. The study also identified 15,124,083 SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) in the long-haired population and 15,331,905 SNPs in the normal-haired population. These findings could potentially be applied to understanding hair growth and loss in other species, including humans.