The 10 bp duplication insertion/deletion in the promoter region within paired box 7 gene is associated with growth traits in cattle

Paired box 7 (Pax7) gene, a member of the paired box gene family, plays a critical role in animal growth and muscle development, especially in cell proliferation and self-renewal. The aim of this study was to detect the 10 base pair (bp) duplication insertion/deletion (indel) in the promoter region within the bovine Pax7 gene as well as its association with growth traits. Herein, a total of 718 individuals from five Chinese cattle breeds were sampled and detected. The 10 bp duplication indel was found in these cattle breeds and there were three genotypes: II (insertion/insertion), ID (insertion/deletion), and DD (deletion/deletion). Moreover, this indel was significantly associated with the body weight in Xianan cattle (P = 0.006), the body height in Jinjiang cattle (P = 0.046), and the hip width in Pi’nan cattle (P = 0.020). Consistently, the individuals with II genotype showed better phenotypic traits than those with the other genotypes in these five breeds. These findings suggest that the 10 bp duplication indel within the bovine Pax7 gene could be considered as an effective DNA molecular marker that provides valuable theoretical basis for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in beef cattle in the future.