Call for papers - Genomics of domestication

Guest Editors

Ningbo Chen, PhD, Northwest A&F University, China
Anna Kukekova, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Dominic Wright, PhD, Linköping University, Sweden

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 23 May 2025

BMC Genomics is calling for submissions to our Collection on domestication, which seeks to gather cutting-edge research that explores the genetic basis of domestication traits, evolutionary relationships between domestic and wild animals, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of domestication. We invite researchers to contribute their work, shedding light on the complex interplay between human and animal genomes and its implications for agriculture, conservation, and sustainable development.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Ningbo Chen, PhD, Northwest A&F University, China

Dr Chen is an Associate Professor in the College of Animal Science and Technology at Northwest A&F University. Using ancientDNA and multi-omics technology to reveal the population evolution and adaptive introgression of bovine species. He has resulted more than 20 research publications including Nature Communications, Genome Biology, etc. Dr Chen has served on the Editorial Board of BMC Genomics and BMC Genomic Data since 2023.

Anna Kukekova, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Anna Kukekova graduated from St. Petersburg State University in Russia and obtained her PhD at the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. She then proceeded to a post-doctoral program at the Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell University where she was a research associate and subsequently a principal research scientist. Since 2012, Dr Kukekova has been a faculty member in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dominic Wright, PhD, Linköping University, Sweden

Dominic Wright is a quantitative Geneticist that specialises on the processes of domestication and feralization as a means to understand the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity and the responses to selection. He uses a variety of animal models and techniques to this end, but in particular use a chicken model in combination with genetical genomics combination techniques.

About the Collection

The domestication of animals has been a pivotal aspect of human history, shaping the development of agriculture and the establishment of human societies. The study of genomics in the context of domestication provides insights into the genetic changes that have occurred in domestic species as a result of their interactions with humans. This includes understanding the genetic basis of domestication traits, the evolutionary relationships between domestic animals and their wild ancestors, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of domestication.

Advancing our collective understanding in the genomics of domestication is crucial for unraveling the genetic underpinnings of key domestication traits, such as docility, sociability, coat color, and milk production. Recent advances in this area have elucidated the genetic changes associated with the transition from wild to domesticated forms, shedding light on the selection pressures and adaptive changes that have occurred during domestication. Furthermore, genomic studies have provided insights into the complex interplay between human and animal genomes, offering a deeper understanding of the co-evolutionary dynamics between humans and domestic species.

Looking ahead, continued research in the genomics of domestication holds the potential for uncovering novel genetic variants associated with domestication traits, as well as identifying the genetic basis of complex behavioral and physiological adaptations in domestic animals. Furthermore, ongoing research efforts may lead to a better understanding of the genetic diversity within domestic species and its implications for their conservation and sustainable management.

We invite contributions across a spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:

Genomic basis of domestication traits
Evolutionary relationships between domestic and wild animals
Molecular mechanisms of domestication
Human-animal co-evolution
Domestication and genetic diversity
Genomic adaptations in response to domestication
Comparative genomics of domesticated species
Genomic diversity and conservation of domesticated animals
Epigenetic regulation in domestication
Genomic insights into behavioral changes in domesticated animals

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Genomics of domestication" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.