Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Key Gene for Wool Type Variation in Sheep

The study conducted genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome analyses on sheep to identify key genes responsible for wool type variation. The researchers discovered a variant type of wool, ancestral-like coarse (ALC), in a modern fine (MF) wool sheep population. The SOSTDC1 gene was identified as being hypermethylated in ALC wool lambs compared to their MF wool siblings. This gene was also found to be expressed dozens of times more in ALC wool lamb skin, specifically in the nucleus of the dermal papilla of primary wool follicles. The study also found that wool type variation changes over time, suggesting the influence of epigenetic modification. The findings suggest that the SOSTDC1 gene plays a key role in wool type variation in sheep, providing new insights into sheep domestication and breeding.