季節性生殖在脊索動物中是很常見的行為，具此行為的動物們會隨著季節改變牠們
的生殖狀態，且以一年為周期。儘管許多已馴化的動物喪失了此行為，部分家禽的
品系仍舊有季節性生殖的行為，而疣鼻棲鴨（番鴨）及白羅曼鵝皆有此行為，此兩
種動物的許多部位（如肉、蛋、羽毛等）皆被廣泛應用在農業用途。在本研究中，
我們使用了會在長日照季節繁殖而在短日照季節進入非生殖時期的番鴨，以及生殖
季節與番鴨相反的白羅曼鵝作為我們的研究對象。而為了研究調控生殖相關器官在
四季中的基因表現量變化，我們分別在春分、夏至、秋分以及冬至採取了番鴨及白
羅曼鵝的下視丘、腦下垂體、松果體以及睪丸，將其 RNA 萃取後定序，以進行轉錄
體分析，而參考基因組則是使用新定序、組裝及註解的全基因體資料。我們在下視
丘及睪丸裡發現了一些可能在調控這兩種水禽類的生殖中扮演重要角色的基因，而
這結果可以幫助我們更加深入了解鳥類季節性生殖的分子機制。

Seasonal reproduction cycle is a specific physiological feature observed in many
vertebrates in which individuals change their reproductive status according to season
changes. Albeit this feature can be lost during the process of domestication, some poultry
breeds, such as Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) and white Roman goose (Anser anser
domesticus), still remain this feature. Understanding the genetic basis of seasonal breeding
is critical in animal sciences as both ducks and gooses are major poultry in agriculture
because of economic values of their feather, flesh, and eggs. In this study, we selected the
Muscovy duck who lays eggs when the length of days getting longer and becomes in
anestrus in fall and winter, and white Roman goose which has opposite estrus cycle to
Muscovy duck as models. To investigate the gene expression changes in related organs
during the four seasons, we collected their pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and
testis on the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and winter solstice for RNA
extraction and sequencing identify transcriptomic differences. We utilized a newly
sequenced, assembled, and annotated whole-genome of this two species for RNA-Seq data
mapping. From the results, we found some genes in hypothalamus and testis might play a
role in controlling seasonal breeding in both two waterfowls. This study gave us insights
into understanding the molecular basis of seasonal breeding in birds.

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