CONCLUSION
In the present study, we used genotyping-by-sequence data to detect
selection signatures in wild African harlequin and domestic Japanese
quails. Our results revealed candidate genes associated with immune
response, growth, reproductive, morphological, and behavioral traits.
The wild African harlequin candidate genes were primarily associated
with morphological and behavioral traits, whereas the domestic Japanese
quail candidate genes were mainly associated with growth and production
traits.
Identifying true signatures can be complicated due to the likelihood of
detecting false positives. Therefore, further studies are always
encouraged to reaffirm and refine results from less-studied species such
as the wild African harlequin quail. Nevertheless, this study was able
to give a glimpse of how natural and artificial selective pressures have
shaped the genomic landscape of wild and domestic quail species.
Furthermore, information on the effects of artificial selection on
domestic Japanese quails may inform conservation policies for wild
quails, especially in regions where domestic quails have been used to
restock wild quail populations.