Understanding the link between genotype and phenotype is critical for the understanding of any trait. However, this link becomes increasingly difficult to discern with complex traits, which often involve dozens or hundreds of genes. Muskox (<i>Ovibos moschatus</i>) wool, known as qiviut, is hypothesized to have greater thermal insulative properties than other natural or synthetic fibers. However, due to the relatively low number of commercial producers and low individual fiber yield (usually &lt;4kg/year), availability of qiviut is extremely limited. As such, there is significant interest in understanding the genetic basis for fiber quality and yield, with the eventual goal of increasing production and integrating fiber assembly into a synthetic biological framework. In an effort to understand the link between genotype and the complex qiviut fiber phenotype of muskox, we generated a reference genome and performed whole genome sequencing on 20 individuals collected from The Musk Ox Farm (Palmer, AK) with a range of wool fiber quality and production quantity. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are significantly associated with both fiber quality and yield. To address the likelihood that multiple genes/SNPs contribute to these complex phenotypes, we also performed a machine learning random forest analysis that identified which ensemble set of genomic features is most likely to contribute to the phenotypes of interest. These analyses will help us understand which genomic features are likely to be important to qiviut fiber quality and production, and will advance our ability to integrate the entire biological fiber production mechanism into a synthetic framework.

Muskox (<i>Ovibos moschatus</i>) genetics: How does genotype affect complex wool fiber phenotypes?

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Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) genetics: How does genotype affect complex wool fiber phenotypes?