Molecular Genetic Mechanisms and Functional Genes Research Progress on the Black Traits in Livestock and Poultry

At present, there are only two kinds of rare black livestock and poultry in the world: black-boned chickens and Lanping black-boned sheep. This study systematically reviews the molecular genetic mechanisms and functional genes research progress on the black traits in livestock and poultry. It summarizes the processes involved in melanocyte formation, melanosome biogenesis and transport, and the migration of melanin in keratinocytes, while delving into the pathways of melanin metabolism. Furthermore, it elucidates the signaling pathways, functional genes, and transport proteins associated with melanin synthesis and metabolism, while identifying existing challenges and technical hurdles in the research of melanin high deposition. Additionally, this study discusses the potential applications of emerging technologies to address these challenges, aiming to provide new insights into the molecular genetic mechanisms of melanin high deposition in black-boned poultry and livestock.