Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39804725›Full record

ArticleGigaScience2025

A high-quality assembly revealing the PMEL gene for the unique plumage phenotype in Liancheng ducks.

Zhen Wang, Zhanbao Guo, Hongfei Liu, Tong Liu, Dapeng Liu, Simeng Yu, Hehe Tang, He Zhang, Qiming Mou, Bo Zhang and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in GigaScience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Potential Genetic Markers Associated with Coloration in Duck: A Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Zhen WangState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0009-0002-8240-5249
Zhanbao GuoState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
Hongfei LiuState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0683-5415
Tong LiuState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
Dapeng LiuState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5865-4937
Simeng YuState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1093-546X
Hehe TangState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
He ZhangState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
Qiming MouState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
Bo ZhangState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0405-7664
Junting CaoState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9937-8107
Martine SchroyenPrecision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux 5030, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-3855-8141
Shuisheng HouState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
Zhengkui ZhouState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5192-2465

Funding

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences CAAS-SCAB-202302MOF CARS-42-05National Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFF1000102National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars 32325047
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlumage coloration is a distinctive trait in ducks, and the Liancheng duck, characterized by its white plumage and black beak and webbed feet, serves as an excellent subject for such studies. However, academic comprehension of the genetic mechanisms underlying duck plumage coloration remains limited. To this end, the Liancheng duck genome (GCA_039998735.1) was hereby de novo assembled using HiFi reads, and F2 segregating populations were generated from Liancheng and Pekin ducks. The aim was to identify the genetic mechanism of white plumage in Liancheng ducks.

resultsIn this study, 1.29 Gb Liancheng duck genome was de novo assembled, involving a contig N50 of 12.17 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 83.98 Mb. Beyond the epistatic effect of the MITF gene, genome-wide association study analysis pinpointed a 0.8-Mb genomic region encompassing the PMEL gene. This gene encoded a protein specific to pigment cells and was essential for the formation of fibrillar sheets within melanosomes, the organelles responsible for pigmentation. Additionally, linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed 2 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (Chr33: 5,303,994A>G; 5,303,997A>G) that might alter PMEL transcription, potentially influencing plumage coloration in Liancheng ducks.

conclusionsOur study has assembled a high-quality genome for the Liancheng duck and has presented compelling evidence that the white plumage characteristic of this breed is attributable to the PMEL gene. Overall, these findings offer significant insights and direction for future studies and breeding programs aimed at understanding and manipulating avian plumage coloration.

Indexed as

DucksFeathersPigmentationAnimalsGenome-Wide Association StudyLinkage DisequilibriumPhenotypePolymorphism, Single Nucleotideduckgenome assemblymelaninplumage colorPMEL

Identifiers

PMID39804725
PMCPMC11727711

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.