International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 20-28 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 20 Review and Progress Open Access Advances in the Genetic Regulation of Feather Coloration in Domestic Geese: From Candidate Genes to Functional Genomics Jingya Li, Mengyue Chen Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: mengyue.chen@cuixi.org International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2025, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2025.15.0003 Received: 20 Dec., 2024 Accepted: 26 Jan., 2025 Published: 09 Feb., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Li and Chen, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li J.Y., and Chen M.Y., 2025, Advances in the genetic regulation of feather coloration in domestic geese: from candidate genes to functional genomics, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 15(1): 20-28 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2025.15.0003) Abstract In recent years, with the development of molecular biology and omics techniques, significant progress has been made in the research on the genetic regulation of feather color in domestic geese. This study describes the main candidate genes that affect feather color variation in geese, such as KIT, EDNRB2, TYRP1 , etc., summarizes the functional mechanisms of these genes in processes such as pigment cell development, melanin synthesis and transport, and highlights the potential role of non-coding RNAs, regulatory elements and environmental factors in feather color formation. The application prospects of technologies such as transcriptome, genomic association analysis and CRISPR in the genetic research of goose feather color were also discussed. This study aims to sort out the genetic basis and regulatory network of feather color formation in domestic geese, and provide theoretical support for molecular breeding, breed selection and resource conservation of poultry appearance traits. Keywords Feather coloration; Domestic geese; Melanogenesis genes; Multi-omics analysis; Gene editing 1 Introduction The color of the feathers of domestic geese is very important, as it is related to aspects such as appearance, economic benefits and practical uses. Different colors like white feathers and grey feathers can affect people’s perception of the variety and market preferences, as well as breeding methods. Feather color is not just about being good-looking. It can also help identify the gender and breed of geese and affect the efficiency and income of goose farming (Huang et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014; Azalou et al., 2024). The color of a goose’s feathers is mainly determined by the type and distribution of melanin. This process is not controlled by a single factor but is regulated by many genes together, and the relationship is rather complex. Genes such as KIT, EDNRB2 and TYRP1 have been confirmed to have a significant relationship with changes in feather color. They can affect the development of melanocytes, the synthesis of melanin, and how pigments deposit on feathers (McGraw et al., 2003; Kozak, 2011; Liu et al., 2025). The research techniques of genomics and transcriptomics have become increasingly advanced, and researchers have also identified more candidate genes and regulatory pathways related to feather sac development and pigmentation. These results make the molecular mechanisms behind feather color clearer. Some mechanisms are similar in different species, and some are specific (Zheng et al., 2020; Ji et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2024). This study summarizes the current understanding of the genetic mechanism of feather color, introduces the important genes and molecular pathways related to pigmentation, and also discusses the significance of these research results in domestic goose breeding, breed selection and future research. This study mainly reviews the new progress in the research of domestic goose feather color in recent years, especially the changes from finding candidate genes to conducting functional genomic research, and hopes that these contents can provide a scientific basis for improving feather color traits and protecting germplasm resources in the future. 2 Phenotypic Diversity and Classification of Feather Color in Geese 2.1 Common color patterns in domestic goose breeds The feathers of domestic geese come in many colors. The most common ones are pure gray and pure white. In
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