Two Mutations at KRT74 and EDAR Synergistically Drive the Fine-Wool Production in Chinese Sheep

The research "Two mutations at KRT74 and EDAR synergistically drive the fine-wool production in Chinese sheep" analyzed genetic data from 385 sheep across 16 regions in China. The study identified two mutations that contribute to the production of finer and denser wool. The first mutation, a C/A missense variant of KRT74, increases KRT74 expression more than 2-fold in fine-wool sheep compared to coarse-wool sheep, accounting for about 50% of the variation in wool production. The second mutation, a T/C SNP in the regulatory region upstream of EDAR, is associated with a 2.93-fold higher expression of EDAR in fine-wool sheep and a 6-fold increase in hair follicle density, accounting for about 35% of the variation in wool production. These findings provide new genetic markers for the wool industry to produce finer and denser wool.