M\'as all\'a del GWAS: alternativas para localizar QTLs

TL;DR

This paper explores two alternative methods to GWAS for localizing QTLs in farm animals, using runs of homozygosity and resampling techniques to improve accuracy in identifying genetic regions associated with traits.

Contribution

It introduces and demonstrates two novel approaches—ROH analysis and resampling—for QTL mapping in livestock, complementing traditional GWAS methods.

Findings

ROH analysis successfully identified QTLs for reproductive diseases in cattle.

Resampling techniques effectively detected carriers of specific haplotypes.

Both methods can enhance the precision of QTL localization in livestock genetics.

Abstract

Beyond GWAS: alternatives to localize QTLs in farm animals. Two methods that could be used for QTL mapping as alternatives to standard GWAS are presented. The first relies on the differential frequency of runs of homozygosity (ROH) in groups of animals (e.g. cases and controls), while the second stems from resampling techniques used for the prediction of carriers of a mutation, and is based on the frequency of inclusion of polymorphisms (SNP) in the predictive model. ROH were applied to the detection of reproductive diseases in Holstein-Friesian cattle, while resampling was applied to the detection of carriers of the BH2 haplotype in Brown Swiss cattle. These alternative approaches may complement GWAS analyses in localizing more accurately QTLs for traits of interest in livestock.