Chicken Polymorphism at Pre-MicroRNAs Inferred from SNP Data

In this study, the SNPs located in the chicken pre-microRNAs were performed a genome-wide analysis. The result showed that pre-microRNA SNPs are negatively selected in respect to SNPs distribution between the pre-microRNA and their flanking regions. Interestingly, the seed regions show a higher SNP density than both the MIR and the other MIR regions excluding seed regions. Furthermore, the SNPs in the seed regions were found show fewer effects on the stability of the pre-microRNA secondary structure. The data suggest that there is a rapid evolution has occurred in the seed regions and these SNPs are tend to be more deleterious , being good candidates for causal phenotypic variability among chickens. These findings will improve our understanding of the functions, evolution of chicken pre-microRNAs.