Abstract
The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a unique multipurpose domestic species that has relevant economic impacts in several contexts. This review is focused on rabbit genetic resources that have been mainly bred for the fixation of differentiating features (e.g., exterior traits) that have been already genetically characterized. Several naturally occurring rabbit mutants could be useful as animal models for the investigation of the biological mechanisms determining their characterizing aspects, with translational potentials. A historical overview of the origin of the domesticated rabbit populations and of their genetic differentiation into many breeds is summarized. Then, a detailed analysis of the genetic features that characterize the different breeds is reported, starting from coat color and coat structure affecting genes (MC1R, ASIP, TYR, MLPH, TYRP1, KIT, LIPH, and FGF5), determining major loci described by classical genetic studies. Mutations in these genes have implications in pigmentation features, hair growth, and related defects. Other gene mutations affecting body size or shapes (HMGA2) and other physiological disfunctions (RORB and BCO2) are also described Additional studies are needed to complete the genetic characterization of some of these loci and to investigate the large genetic variability available in fancy breeds and commercial meat and fur lines.
Highlights
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), known as rabbit, is a unique multipurpose domestic species, that has relevant economic impacts in several contexts and that, with the wild or feral counterpart, plays important roles in ecological niches [1]
This review is focused on rabbit genetic resources that have been mainly bred for the fixation of differentiating features that have been already genetically characterized
A detailed analysis of the genetic features that characterize the different breeds is reported, starting from coat color and coat structure affecting genes (MC1R, Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP), TYR, MLPH, Tyrosinase-Related Protein 1 (TYRP1), KIT, Lipase Member H (LIPH), and Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 (FGF5)), determining major loci described by classical genetic studies
Summary
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), known as rabbit, is a unique multipurpose domestic species, that has relevant economic impacts in several contexts and that, with the wild or feral counterpart, plays important roles in ecological niches [1]. The domestication pathway that could better describe what probably occurred in the rabbit is the directed pathway that, in the case of this species, cannot be derived by few events This model does not involve any preliminary steps of habituation to the humans or preliminary management of the animals and directly begins with the capture of wild forms with the aim to control their reproduction and manage their breeding [20,21,22]. For a few of these traits, the mutated genes have been identified and the causative variants have been reported
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