Comparative analysis of the extreme meat color transcriptome reveals key regulatory genes and identifies potential SNPs in Leiqiong cattle
Wenhui Zhang, Zongzhou Chen, Xiaowen Li, Yanyan Zhang, Yanhong Yong, Xiaoxi Liu, Zhichao Yu, Xingbing Ma, A M Abd El-Aty, Xianghong Ju · 2026
Read Comparative analysis of the extreme meat color transcriptome reveals key regulatory genes and identifies potential SNPs in Leiqiong cattle by Wenhui Zhang, Zongzhou Chen, Xiaowen Li, Yanyan Zhang, Yanhong Yong, Xiaoxi Liu, Zhichao Yu, Xingbing Ma, A M Abd El-Aty, Xianghong Ju (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13371243.txt.
Description
Wenhui Zhang and colleagues trace the genes behind meat colour in Leiqiong cattle in a 2026 study. This native beef breed from southern China copes well with tropical heat and is prized for meat quality, with colour strongly shaping what shoppers choose. Gene activity was compared between light- and dark-coloured meat from eight animals.
The comparison found 490 genes with different activity levels, and three candidates stood out: GSTP1, HSPA2, and LDHD. Screening 100 cattle found 25 gene variants across those loci, with some linked to colour differences. The work points breeders toward DNA markers for colour, so selection could improve market value without losing the breed's heat tolerance.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Wenhui Zhang, Zongzhou Chen, Xiaowen Li, Yanyan Zhang, Yanhong Yong, Xiaoxi Liu, Zhichao Yu, Xingbing Ma, A M Abd El-Aty, Xianghong Ju |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 34 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |