Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA CN) was investigated as a potential indicator of growth and carcass traits in a beef cattle population. Blood or leucocyte samples were subjected to low-pass wholegenome sequencing resulting in nuclear DNA (nuDNA) and mtDNA reads for 2,371 animals. Mitochondrial DNA CN was estimated as the ratio of mtDNA to nuDNA coverages. Growth and carcass traits were available for up 60,989 individuals. Genetic parameters were estimated from a bivariate animal model based on pedigree. Estimate of heritability of mtDNA CN was 0.11±0.07. Genetic correlation estimates of mtDNA CN were -0.30±0.16 with birth weight, -0.31±0.16 with age-adjusted weaning weight, -0.15±0.14 with post-weaning gain, -0.11±0.13 with slaughter weight, -0.14±0.13 with carcass weight, -0.07±0.14 with carcass backfat, 0.14±0.14 with carcass marbling, and -0.06±0.14 with carcass ribeye area. Thus, mtDNA CN is heritable and lowly correlated with growth and carcass traits. The USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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