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Investigating the Role of Genetic Variation in vgll3 and six6 in the Domestication of Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax Linnaeus)
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  • ARISTOTELIS MOULISTANOS,
  • Theopisti Nikolaou,
  • Smaragda Sismanoglou,
  • Konstantinos Gkagkavouzis,
  • Nikoleta Karaiskou,
  • Efthimia Antonopoulou,
  • Alexandros Triantafyllidis,
  • Spiros Papakostas
ARISTOTELIS MOULISTANOS
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Theopisti Nikolaou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Smaragda Sismanoglou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Konstantinos Gkagkavouzis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Nikoleta Karaiskou
Developmental and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Efthimia Antonopoulou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Alexandros Triantafyllidis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
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Spiros Papakostas
International Hellenic University School of Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:spapakostas@ihu.edu.gr

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Abstract

Gene function conservation is crucial in molecular ecology, especially for key traits like growth and maturation in teleost fish. The vgll3 and six6 genes are known to influence age-at-maturity in Atlantic salmon, but their impact on other fish species is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the association of vgll3 and six6 in the domestication of gilthead seabream and European seabass, both undergoing selective breeding for growth-related traits in the Mediterranean. We analysed two different sets of samples using two different genotyping approaches. The first dataset comprised farmed and wild populations from Greece, genotyped for SNPs within the genomic range of the two genes (“gene-level genotyping”). The second dataset examined 300k to 600k SNPs located in the chromosomes of the two genes, derived from a meta-analysis of a Pool-Seq experiment involving farmed and wild populations distributed widely across the Mediterranean (“chromosome-level genotyping”). The gene-level analysis revealed a significant effect of domestication on both genes in each species. This finding was partially supported by the chromosome-level analysis, identifying highly differentiated regions associated with domestication at varying distances from the candidate genes. Noteworthy genomic features were found, such as a CpG island in gilthead seabream and novel candidate genes in European seabream, warranting further investigation. These findings support a putative role of vgll3 and six6 in the maturation and growth of gilthead seabream and European seabass, emphasizing the need for further research on their conserved function.
04 Oct 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
05 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
05 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
05 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Oct 20231st Revision Received
27 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
27 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
27 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Accept