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Simple Summary: Our study identified the copy number variations (CNVs) and transcriptional expressions of guanylate-binding protein 6 (GBP6) in Chinese cattle, as well as analyzed the association of CNVs and expressions with the growth traits of Chinese cattle. The results showed Xianan cattle with gain types (Log22−ΔΔCt > 0.5) of CNVs of GBP6 had highest relative gene expression levels in the muscle tissues and displayed superior phenotypic values of body weight, cannon circumference and chest circumference. Our study suggested that CNV gain types of GBP6 could be used as the candidate markers in the cattle-breeding program for growth traits. Association studies have indicated profound effects of copy number variations (CNVs) on various phenotypes in different species. In this study, we identified the CNV distributions and expression levels of guanylate-binding protein 6 (GBP6) associated with the growth traits of Chinese cattle. The results showed that the phenotypic values of body size and weight of Xianan (XN) cattle were higher than those of Nanyang (NY) cattle. The medium CNV types were mostly identified in the XN and NY breeds, but their CNV distributions were significantly different (adjusted p < 0.05). The association analysis revealed that the body weight, cannon circumference and chest circumference of XN cattle had significantly different values in different CNV types (p < 0.05), with CNV gain types (Log22−ΔΔCt > 0.5) displaying superior phenotypic values. We also found that transcription levels varied in different tissues (p < 0.001) and the CNV gain types showed the highest relative gene expression levels in the muscle tissue, consistent with the highest phenotypic values of body weight and cannon circumference among the three CNV types. Consequently, our results suggested that CNV gain types of GBP6 could be used as the candidate markers in the cattle-breeding program for growth traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Copy number variation is a common genetic polymorphism, mainly represented by submicroscopic levels of deletion and duplication, caused by rearrangement of the genome. It is well-known that the copy number variation of a gene is associated with growth traits of livestock. In this study, we detected the correlation between the copy number variation of the the MLLT10 gene and the growth traits of Chinese yellow cattle. We found that the copy number variation of the MLLT10 gene has a significant influence on hip width, rump length, hucklebone width, and cannon bone circumference of some Chinese yellow cattle breeds. The results provide preliminary suggestions for Chinese yellow cattle breeding and new insights about the future of copy number variation (CNV) as a new promising molecular marker in animal breeding. Copy number variation is a part of genomic structural variation and has caused widespread concern. According to the results of high-throughput screening of the MLLT10 gene, we found that the copy number variation region of the MLLT10 gene was correlated with bovine growth traits. We aimed to detect the MLLT10 gene copy number variation and provide materials for the Chinese yellow cattle breed. In this study, the SPSS software was used to analyze the correlation among the copy number type of six different cattle breeds (i.e., Qinchuan, Xianan, Jiaxian, Yanbian, Sinan, Yunling) and the corresponding growth traits. The results showed the following: In Qinchuan cattle, the copy number duplication type was greater than the deletion and normal types; in Xianan cattle, the copy number duplication and normal types were less as compared with the deletion type; and in Yunling cattle, the frequency of the duplication type was dominant among the three types of copy number variants. The correlation analysis result showed that there is a significant correlation between the copy number variation (CNV) of the MLLT10 gene and the growth traits of three cattle breeds. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that MLLT10 CNV had positive effects on growth traits such as hip width, rump length, hucklebone width, and cannon bone circumference (p < 0.05). This study provides a basis for the molecular-assisted marker breeding of cattle and contributes to the breeding of cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]