Whole genome sequencing of Texel, Kazakh and their hybrid sheep

Thin- and Fat-tailed sheep showing significant differences in fat deposition, meat production. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying these phenotypic differences remain to be elucidated. In this report, we provide a detailed portrait of allele-specific expression (ASE) from 71 RNA-Seq analyses across five tissues from fifteen F1 hybrid offspring generated by Texel sheep crossbred with Kazakh sheep combined with 18 genomes of Texel sheep and Kazakh sheep. In conclusion, our study shows that the exploration of genes with ASE in F1 hybrids provides an efficient way to understand the genetic basis underlying the phenotypic differences between thin- and fat-tailed sheep.