The small East African Shorthorn @entity7040 (EASZ) is the main indigenous @entity291 across East Africa. A recent genome wide SNP analysis revealed an ancient stable African taurine x Asian @entity7040 admixture. Here, we assess the presence of candidate signatures of positive selection in their genome, with the aim to provide qualitative insights about the corresponding selective pressures. Four hundred and twenty-five EASZ and four reference populations (Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, N'Dama and Nellore) were analysed using 46,171 SNPs covering all autosomes and the X chromosome. Following FST and two extended haplotype homozygosity-based (iHS and Rsb) analyses 24 candidate genome regions within 14 autosomes and the X chromosome were revealed, in which 18 and 4 were previously identified in tropical-adapted and commercial breeds, respectively. These regions overlap with 340 @entity291 QTL. They include 409 annotated genes, in which 37 were considered as candidates. These genes are involved in various biological pathways (e.g. immunity, reproduction, development and @entity6167 ). Our results support that different selection pressures (e.g. environmental constraints, @entity1 selection, genome admixture constrains) have shaped the genome of EASZ. We argue that these candidate regions represent genome landmarks to be maintained in breeding programs aiming to improve sustainable livestock productivity in the tropics.

Signatures of positive selection in East African Shorthorn XXXX : A genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism analysis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity6167 :: ('MESH:D018883', 'Disease') :: ['heat tolerance'] @entity291 :: ('9913', 'Species') :: ['cattle', 'bovine'] @entity7040 :: ('9915', 'Species') :: ['Zebu', 'zebu']
@entity7040 :: (9915,Species) :: ['Zebu']
