Animal Molecular Breeding, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 19-28 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 26 9.2 Functional validation of domestication genes Many candidate genes and gene regions related to domestication traits have now been identified, but there are still challenges in truly verifying their functions (Jing et al., 2022; Chen et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). Most of the results are based on statistical analysis or inferences of selected signals, lacking experimental evidence to prove whether a specific mutation really causes these trait changes. EXT1, CSMD1 and LHCGR have been found to be possibly related to tumor structure or brooding behavior, but their specific functions in geese remain unclear. To confirm the roles of these genes, further studies through gene editing, expression analysis or transgenic experiments are still needed (Chen et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). The interaction between genes and the environment, as well as the phenomenon that one gene affects multiple traits (pleiotropy), also make these functional verifications more complex. 9.3 Toward a holistic understanding of avian domestication Many studies on the domestication of geese mainly focus on a certain species or lineage, and the understanding of the entire process of bird domestication is still relatively limited. There is extensive genetic flow between wild geese and domestic geese, and there is also hybridization among different domestic goose breeds. This indicates that it is necessary to adopt an interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach to combine genomic, archaeological data and ecological data in order to better reconstruct the domestication process of geese (Heikkinen et al., 2020). Ottenburghs et al. (2017) hold that through comparative studies among different species, the common and unique genetic mechanisms in the domestication process can be identified, and the impacts of hybridization and gene infiltration on genetic diversity and trait evolution can be clarified. Future research should focus on establishing standardized genomic resource libraries and functional genomic technology platforms, and strengthen multidisciplinary cooperation, so as to truly promote the overall understanding of the domestication process of geese and even the entire bird species. Acknowledgments The authors appreciate the modification suggestions from two anonymous peer reviewers on the manuscript of this study. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Abdel-Kafy E., Ramadan S., Ali W., Youssef S., Shabaan H., El-Deighadi A., and Inoue-Murayama M., 2021, Genetic and phenotypic characterization of domestic geese (Anser anser) in Egypt, Animals, 11(11): 3106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113106 Azalou M., Assani A., Kpomasse C., Tona K., Alkoiret I., and Pitala W., 2024, Phenotypic and morphometric characterization of domestic geese raised in northern Benin, Poultry Science, 103(4): 103563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103563 Chen H., Wu Y., Zhu Y., Luo K., Zheng S., Tang H., Xuan R., Huang Y., Li J., Xiong R., Fang X., Wang L., Gong Y., Miao J., Zhou J., Tan H., Wang Y., Wu L., Jing O., Huang M., and Yan X., 2024, Deciphering the genetic landscape: insights into the genomic signatures of Changle goose, Evolutionary Applications, 17(8): e13768. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13768 Chen L., Cao Y., Li G., Tian Y., Zeng T., Gu T., Xu W., Konoval O., and Lu L., 2023, Population structure and selection signatures of domestication in geese, Biology, 12(4): 532. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040532 Chen X., Bai H., Li L., Zhang W., Jiang R., and Geng Z., 2012, Follicle characteristics and follicle developmental related Wnt6 polymorphism in Chinese indigenous Wanxi-white goose, Molecular Biology Reports, 39: 9843-9848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1850-2 Cheng J.H., Zhao W.M., Bao W.B., Chen Q., Qiao N., Wang X.B., Zhang K.N., Zhao X.T., and Chen G.H., 2008, Polymorphism of the insertion/deletion in goose Pit-1 gene and its effects on early stage bodyweight of Wanxi white goose, Journal of Agriculture Biotechnology, 16(3): 426-429. Dong B., Sun G.B., Duan X.J., Qin H.R., Xu Q., Qiao N., and Chen G.H., 2015, Comparison of population genetic diversity between indigenous goose breeds by automatic scanning technique, Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 28(3): 1369-1374.
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