Selective breeding has reshaped livestock into some of the world's most productive animals, but new research suggests these gains may come with under recognised genetic costs.
A new paper published in Trends in Genetics argues that domestication pressures could be contributing to a rise in "spliceopathies", diseases caused by errors in RNA splicing, a key molecular process that controls how genes are expressed.
Lead author Associate Professor Ulf Schmitz, from James Cook University said RNA splicing acts as a kind of molecular editor, determining which sections of a gene are retained or discarded before a protein is produced.
"Even small disruptions to this process can have far reaching consequences. If the process goes wrong, it can fundamentally alter how cells function," said Dr Schmitz.
While spliceopathies have been widely studied in humans, the authors say similar mechanisms may be increasingly relevant in domesticated animals.
"Intensive selection for traits such as rapid growth, high milk output or specific body shapes may inadvertently place strain on the regulatory systems that keep gene expression in balance," said Dr Schmitz.
He said domestication may amplify hidden genetic variation or destabilise finely tuned molecular pathways, increasing the likelihood of splicing errors.
"Over time this could reduce animals' resilience and heighten their susceptibility to disease. This could contribute to unforeseen health issues in animal populations," said Dr Schmitz.
The researchers call for livestock breeding programs to incorporate far more RNA level analysis, made possible by advances in long read and single cell sequencing technologies. These tools allow scientists to observe gene regulation with unprecedented precision.
Dr Schmitz said understanding how domestication shapes gene use, not just gene sequences, will be essential for building more sustainable and robust livestock systems.
"Our findings open a new frontier at the intersection of genomics, agriculture and evolutionary biology."
