This study investigates the relationship between genes and metabolites in sheep ovaries and blood. The analysis revealed that glutathione pathways are active in both the ovary and blood, which indicates a possible exchange of metabolites between these 2 tissues. This study found a correlation between the expression of certain Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) family genes, such as the BBS10 gene, in the ovary and blood. These genes could serve as potential biomarkers for BBS. The results indicate that specific single nucleotide polymorphisms in the BBS10 gene region are associated with changes in litter size, which makes them potential molecular markers that can be targeted to breed sheep with larger litter sizes.

Read more in the Journal of Animal Science.