Polymorphisms of the bovine WNT10B gene and their associations with growth traits

Wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 10B (WNT10B) may play an important role in inhibiting differentiation of preadipocytes in vitro and impairing adipose development in vivo. In this study, based on DNA sequencing and PCR–RFLP methods, we attempted to characterize the associations between common genetic polymorphisms in WNT10B and growth traits of 435 female cattle from three breeds (Jiaxian, Qinchuan and Luxi cattle). The results indicated that g.220A>G was in the intron 1, and g.1617C>T, g.3980G>T, g.4711G>C were in the coding region. At the g.3980G>T locus, Jiaxian cattle individuals with genotype TT had greater body length than those with genotypes GG and GT (P < 0.05). At the g.220A>G locus, Qinchuan cattle individuals with genotype GG had greater growth traits than those with genotype AA and AG (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These statistical results showed that the WNT10B gene might be a potential candidate gene for marker-assisted selection (MAS).