Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Candidate Genes Associated With the Intensity of Green Eggshell Color in Chickens.

Yongguang Zhou, Shenjun Wu, Jiaxuan Zhang, Xi Cao, Chi Zhang, Sirui Chen, Haigang Bao, Junying Li

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Animal genetics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Yongguang ZhouCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7447-7452

Shenjun WuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Jiaxuan ZhangCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Xi CaoCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Chi ZhangCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Sirui ChenCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Haigang BaoCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4591-3957

Junying LiCollege of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Funding

CAU-SCCD Advanced Agricultural & Industrial Institute

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Eggshell color is an important economic trait in poultry. In green-eggshell chickens, eggshell color intensity is primarily determined by the amount of biliverdin deposited in the shell, but its genetic basis remains unclear. In this study, 230 Dongxiang green-eggshell chickens at 29 weeks of age were genotyped for the green-shell locus. Homozygous green-shell individuals were identified and subjected to a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using eggshell biliverdin concentration as the phenotype. The results showed that all 230 individuals were homozygous for the green-shell genotype, and eggshell biliverdin concentration was approximately normally distributed in the population. GWAS identified seven SNPs that exceeded the genome-wide significance threshold within a 110-kb region (3035804-3143838 bp) on chromosome 12. Functional annotation of the significant loci identified ALAS1 as a candidate gene. ALAS1 encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in heme biosynthesis and is therefore biologically linked to biliverdin production. Haplotype analysis further revealed a strong linkage block encompassing the ALAS1 region, supporting its potential role in regulating green eggshell color intensity. These findings provide candidate genetic markers for improving green eggshell color intensity in breeding programs.

Indexed as

ChickensEgg ShellGenome-Wide Association StudyPigmentationAnimalsBiliverdineColorGenotypeHaplotypesPhenotypePolymorphism, Single NucleotideBiliverdineALAS1biliverdin concentrationDongxiang green eggshell chickenseggshell color intensityGWAS

Identifiers

PMID42575847

DOI10.1002/age.70171

PMCPMC13457112

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.