Yanling Ren

Ms. Yanling Ren


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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30 June 2026 in Veterinary Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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ZWZhihua Wang
Zhihua Wang
TPTe Pi
Te Pi
YRYanling Ren
Yanling Ren
CWCuiping Wang
Cuiping Wang
YLYishan Li
Yishan Li
SYShouqing Yan
Shouqing Yan
The Wadi sheep (WAD) is a unique Chinese indigenous breed previously reported to show adaptation to humid and saline–alkali lowlands, disease resistance, high fecundity, and favorable meat quality. However, the recent widespread introduction of commercial sheep breeds has led to a sharp decline in the purebred WAD population, posing serious threats to the preservation of its unique genetic resources. Therefore, there is an urgent need to assess the current population structure and genetic diversity of WAD to support its conservation and sustainable utilization. In this study, we systematically analyzed genomic variation, population structure, and selection signatures using whole-genome resequencing data from 30 WAD sheep and 80 publicly available genomes representing five other breeds obtained from the NCBI database. Population genomic analyses revealed that WAD retains substantial genetic diversity and exhibits a distinct population structure, shaped by its unique breeding history. Selection signature analyses using FST, π ratio, and XP-EHH identified 457 candidate genes under positive selection, which are associated with key biological processes including environmental adaptation, immune defense, muscle traits, growth, and reproduction. These findings identify genomic regions potentially related to reported WAD traits and provide a theoretical basis for its conservation, molecular breeding, and sustainable utilization in lowland environments.