Topics and Trends in Most Cited Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock Papers

At a glance

Field

Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock

Cohort label

Class of 2026 (2024 publications)

Papers analyzed

7,294

Papers ranked

20

Top topics in ranked papers

Whole-genome sequencing, GWAS, and multi-omics integration

Publication window

Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024

Eligibility

Research articles; reviews excluded

Citation window

18 months post-publication

18m citation range

18–118

Data source

OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026

License

CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

Topic trends

Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 for genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock is heavily anchored in the application of high-resolution genomics. Whole-genome sequencing and Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) remain the dominant, foundational tools for uncovering novel trait-associated variants across populations. Crucially, however, the field is rapidly advancing into systems biology through a substantial and growing emphasis on multi-omics integration. Researchers are increasingly combining transcriptomic, metabolomic, and genomic datasets to map the complex molecular architecture underlying phenotypic traits. Alongside these technological shifts, targeted studies on specialized and indigenous breeds are remarkably prevalent. Research focusing extensively on Hu sheep, Tibetan sheep, and Holstein-Friesian cattle forms a core component of this cohort's landscape. These breed-specific analyses are frequently coupled with targeted investigations into high-value functional attributes, such as fat deposition, body size traits, and unique adaptation mechanisms. Mechanistically, there is also an expanded focus on the rumen microbiome and its diverse metabolic outputs—such as volatile fatty acids—as critical drivers of host phenotype. This illustrates a broader paradigm shift toward understanding host-microbe interactions as an integral factor in modern livestock genetics.

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

A striking evolution in the Class of 2026 is the rapid ascent of single-cell RNA sequencing and targeted multi-omics approaches, which are actively displacing more conventional genetic mapping strategies. Traditional mainstays of the field, such as the analysis of selection signatures and the application of genomic selection, experienced nearly a 50% decline in relative frequency. This notable drop suggests that researchers are steadily moving past basic locus identification toward high-resolution functional validation and the exploration of complex molecular interactions. Simultaneously, there is a pronounced and fascinating pivot toward the genetics of extreme adaptation and specialized breed traits. Research on Tibetan sheep and the associated EPAS1 gene emerged entirely in this cohort, driven by efforts to investigate the mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation. Similarly, studies centering on Hu sheep surged seven-fold, often intersecting with metabolic profiling (metabolomics) and the mapping of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). The exponential rise of supporting topics like volatile fatty acids and body size traits further underscores this broader paradigm shift: modern livestock genetics is increasingly prioritizing systems-level mechanistic pathways—such as those mediated by the rumen microbiome—over isolated genomic breeding values.

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/genetic-and-phenotypic-traits-in-livestock/2026. Accessed 2026-07-15.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459