Evaluation of candidate genotype of leptin gene associated with fertility and production traits in Hardhenu (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) cattle

The present study was conducted on Hardhenu cattle to screen genomic region of leptin gene with an objective to find the association of genotypes with fertility and production traits. The association analysis with traits under study was analysed by least squares analysis of variance by taking SNPs genotype as fixed effects in the statistical model. The genotypic frequencies with respect to targeted loci g.92450765 G > A indicated that AG (0.54) genotype was highest in Hardhenu cattle. Chi-squared tests showed that g.92450765G > A SNP meet with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p > .05).The association analysis revealed significant association of genotypes with total milk yield (TMY) and 305 days milk yield (MY) (p < .05). Service period (SP) and calving interval (CI) were also found significantly associated with genotypes (p < .05). Whereas, lactation length (LL), dry days (DD) and age at first calving (AFC) did not divulge any significant association with genotype. The AG and GG genotypes were associated with higher milk yields as compared to AA genotype, indicating that allele G was associated with superior milk performance. However, AA genotyped cattle found to be favourable with SP, CI and artificial insemination (AI) per conception compared to AG and GG genotyped cows. Chi-square analysis revealed that genetic variants of g.92450765 G > A SNP of leptin gene differ significantly with regard to reproductive disorders incidence (p < .05). The frequency of GG genotype (88.89%) in the affected animal group was very high followed by AG. The animals with GG genotype were found to be more susceptible to reproductive disorders as suggested by the higher odd ratio value (16.00) in logistic model. These observations and their differential association with the fertility and production traits can be utilized as an aid to selection for genetic improvement of antagonistic traits in dairy cows.     

Polymorphisms in the promoter region of myostatin gene are associated with carcass traits in pigs

Higher average daily gain, more lean meat yield and less fat yield of porcine carcass increase selling profits for animal producers. Myostatin (MSTN), previously called GDF8, is a member of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily. It is a negative regulator for both embryonic development and adult homeostasis of skeletal muscle. In this study, the genotypes of the previously described SNPs MSTN g.435G>A and g.447A>G SNPs in 66 Duroc pigs, 33 Landrace pigs, 180 Duroc × Landrace (DL) pigs and 155 Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace (DYL) pigs were determined by Taqman SNP Genotyping Assays. For Duroc and Landrace pigs, MSTN g.435GG/g.447AA individual had greater backfat thickness (p < 0.05) than g.435AA/g.447GG individual, whereas MSTN g.435AA/g.447GG had greater meat (p < 0.05) and meat percentage (p < 0.05) than g.435GA/g.447AG individual. For DL and DYL pigs, the MSTN g.435GG/g.447AA animals were greater in backfat at ultrasound 10th rib (p < 0.05) and carcass 10th rib (p < 0.01) than g.435AA/g.447GG individual. The MSTN g.435AA/g.447GG individual also had higher values than g.435GG/g.447AA for anterior‐end meat (p < 0.05), posterior‐end meat (p < 0.01), total meat weight (p < 0.01) and meat percentage (p < 0.01). This study confirmed evidence that MSTN g.435G>A and g.447A>G affected carcass traits in pigs. The effects of the mutated alleles were additive with the maximal effects resulting from two copies of the mutated allele. Selection for MSTN g.435A/g.447G allele is expected to increase muscle of limb and total meat production and decrease backfat thickness.     

DECR1 and ME1 genotypes are associated with lipid composition traits in Duroc pigs

Variation at the porcine DECR1 and ME1 genes has been associated with meat quality traits and backfat thickness in Landrace pigs, respectively. However, it has not been investigated yet whether DECR1 and ME1 genotypes influence lipid composition. With this aim, we have genotyped two missense DECR1 substitutions (c.160G>C and c.437G>C) and one silent ME1 (c.576C>T) polymorphism in 361 Duroc barrows distributed in five half‐sib families and phenotyped for serum lipid concentrations and intramuscular fat content and composition traits. At the whole‐population level, relevant associations, that is, with a posterior probability of the allele substitution effect to be over or below zero (PPN0) > 0.90, were observed between DECR1 genotype and serum cholesterol (CHOL) (PPN0 = 0.932) and LDL concentrations (PPN0 = 0.945) at 190 days, as well as between ME1 genotype and longissimus dorsi saturated fatty acid content (PPN0 = 0.924). At the within‐family level, we found relevant associations between DECR1 and ME1 genotypes and diverse lipid composition traits, but most of them were family‐specific. Discrepancies in allele substitution effects estimated in half‐sib families might be produced by many factors such as number of individuals, marker allele frequencies and informativeness in each family, unaccounted random genetic and environmental effects, epistasis and family‐specific differences in the linkage phase or amount of linkage disequilibrium between causal and marker mutations. This lack of consistency across families, combined with the fact that the ME1 mutation is synonymous and that the two DECR1 polymorphisms are conservative, suggests that the associations found are not causative.     

中国草原红牛PDK4基因多态性及其与肉质性状的关联分析

【目的】 研究中国草原红牛丙酮酸脱氢酶激酶4（pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4，PDK4）基因多态性与肉质性状的关系。【方法】 挑选120头中国草原红牛为研究对象，采用Sanger测序法检测PDK4基因第1~11外显子的单核苷酸多态性（SNP）位点，分析SNP位点的基因型频率、基因频率及群体遗传参数等。利用SPSS 21.0软件对中国草原红牛PDK4基因SNP位点多态性与肉质性状（熟肉率、肉嫩度、失水率、pH、滴水损失、肌内脂肪含量、初水分含量、蛋白质含量）进行关联分析。【结果】 在中国草原红牛PDK4基因外显子8和外显子11上共检测到3个SNPs；PDK4基因第8外显子57 bp处存在1个SNP位点（G57C），且引起编码氨基酸的改变，存在GG、GC和CC 3种基因型；PDK4基因第11外显子在330和389 bp处存在2个SNPs位点（G330T和C389T），在G330T位点上存在GG、GT和TT 3种基因型；在C389T位点上存在CC、CT和TT 3种基因型。卡方适合性检验结果显示，中国草原红牛第8外显子G57C位点偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态（P<0.05），第11外显子的G330T和C398T符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态（P>0.05）；群体遗传参数分析发现，第8外显子G57C突变位点属于低度多态性位点（PIC<0.25），等位基因数为1.1429，表明其在中国草原红牛中的变异较小；第11外显子G330T和C398T属于中度多态性位点（0.25<PIC<0.5），等位基因数分别为1.6431和1.6447，说明该遗传标记能够提供遗传信息。关联分析结果表明，PDK4基因第8外显子中G57C位点GG和CC基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于GC基因型（P<0.05）；第11外显子G330T位点GG基因型滴水损失和初水分量显著高于GT基因型（P<0.05）；GG基因型肉嫩度显著高于TT基因型（P<0.05）；GT基因型肌内脂肪含量显著高于TT基因型（P<0.05），C389T处CT基因型失水率显著低于TT基因型（P<0.05）。【结论】 PDK4基因多态性与中国草原红牛肉质性状相关，可作为肉质性状的候选基因。     

Genetic parameter estimation and gene association analyses for meat quality traits in open-air free-range Iberian pigs

Meat quality of Iberian pigs is defined by the combination of their genetic characteristics and the particular production system. To carry out a genetic analysis of the main meat quality traits, we estimated their heritabilities, genetic correlations and the association effects of 32 selected SNPs of 12 candidate genes. A total of ten traits were measured in longissimus dorsi samples from 1,199 Iberian pigs fattened in the traditional free-range system: water holding capacity (thawing, cooking and centrifuge force water losses), instrumental colour (lightness L*, redness a* and yellowness b*), myoglobin content, shear force on cooked meat, and shear force and maximum compression force on dry-cured loin. Estimated heritability values were low to moderate (0.01 to 0.43) being the lowest for L* and the highest for cooking loss. Strong genetic correlations between water holding capacity traits (0.93 to 0.96) and between myoglobin content and a* (0.94) were observed. The association analyses revealed 19 SNPs significantly associated with different traits. Consistent and strong effects were observed between PRKAG3 SNPs (rs319678464G > C and rs330427832C > T), MYH3_rs81437544T > C, CASP3_rs319658214G > T and CTSL_rs332171512A > G and water losses. Also for CAPN1_rs81358667G > A and CASP3_rs319658214G > T and shear force. The SNPs mapping on PRKAG3 showed the highest effects on Minolta colour traits. Genotyping of these SNPs could be useful for the selection of Iberian young boars with similar estimated breeding values for productive traits.     

Lack of the Associations of the Polymorphisms in IGF2, MC4R and GNAS Genes with Reproduction Traits in Pigs and Imprinting Analysis of IGF2 Gene in Ovary and Cornus Uteri

In recent years, intensive attention has been put on improving reproductive performance of pigs. Several experiments aimed to identify markers associated with prolificacy, but this issue still remains open. In our study, we investigated associations between polymorphisms in IGF2, GNAS and MC4R genes with reproductive traits of Polish Landrace and Large White pigs. We did not find any significant associations for g. GNAS314T > 324C, IGF2 intron3‐g.3072G > A or g. MC4R 1426G > A in Polish Landrace and Large White pigs. In the case of IGF2 intron3‐g.3072G > A, this information is of great importance, because this marker is widely implemented in pigs breeding and previous experiments suggested its role in prolificacy of pigs. We also investigated expression of IGF2 gene and showed that this gene is monoallelically expressed in reproductive organs (ovary and cornus uteri).     

中国西门塔尔牛血管生成素样蛋白3基因多态性及其与肉质性状的关联性分析

本研究旨在分析血管生成素样蛋白3(angiopoietin-like protein 3,ANGPTL3)基因的单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)及其与中国西门塔尔牛肉质性状的关联性,寻找可用于辅助选择的分子标记。随机选取饲养条件相同的98头中国西门塔尔牛为研究对象,采用PCR-SSCP技术结合DNA测序技术检测ANGPTL3基因的SNP。运用SPSS 19.0软件对ANGPTL3基因的不同基因型与肉质性状进行关联性分析。经测序发现,ANGPTL3基因外显子4中存在1个突变位点G7358C,存在2种基因型:CD、DD。关联性分析结果表明,G7358C突变位点的不同基因型与胴体脂肪覆盖率、眼肌面积、肌内脂肪和大理石花纹差异显著相关(P0.05),CC基因型个体胴体脂肪覆盖率、眼肌面积、肌内脂肪和大理石花纹显著高于CD基因型个体(P0.05)。试验结果表明,G7358C位点的CC基因型为优势基因型,与胴体脂肪覆盖率、眼肌面积、肌内脂肪和大理石花纹等肉用性状有相关性,ANGPTL3基因有望作为分子标记辅助选择的候选基因。     

Effect of VRTN gene polymorphisms on Duroc pig production and carcass traits,and their genetic relationships

The thoracic vertebral number is associated with body length and carcass traits, and represents one of the most important traits in the pig industry. Recent studies have shown that vertnin (VRTN) gene is associated with variations in the vertebral number in commercial European pigs. However, the genetic relationships and effect of this VRTN gene in pig production and carcass traits remain uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the genetic relationships among traits such as vertebral numbers, carcass weight and length‐related traits, and meat production traits, and the effect of VRTN gene polymorphisms on these traits in a Duroc purebred population selected for its meat production traits. Highly positive genetic correlations were obtained between the thoracic vertebral numbers and length‐related traits (0.56 to 0.84), whereas low correlations were obtained with production traits and carcass weight (?0.16 to 0.05). VRTN gene polymorphisms indicated that the number of thoracic vertebrae and length‐related traits were significantly associated with the VRTN genotype, but had no significant effect on production traits and carcass weight. The results indicate that VRTN gene may be used as an effective selection marker to obtain pigs with high thoracic vertebral numbers and length‐related traits, without adversely affecting meat production traits.     

PLIN2基因在秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达规律及基因多态性与肉质性状的关联分析

试验旨在研究围脂滴蛋白2（PLIN2）基因在秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达情况及基因多态性与肉质性状的关联分析。采用实时荧光定量PCR检测PLIN2基因mRNA在不同月龄（6~60月龄）秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达情况;选取18~24月龄的健康秦川肉牛536头,采集血样并测定肉质性状指标,研究PLIN2基因单核苷酸多态性（SNP）和氨基酸突变,并与秦川肉牛肉质性状进行关联分析。结果发现,PLIN2基因在秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达量呈先上升后下降趋势,18月龄时表达量最高。测序共发现9个SNPs位点,其中g.C7919>T位点不同基因型肌内脂肪含量差异显著（P<0.05）,CT基因型显著高于TT和CC基因型;g.C7933>T位点不同基因型背膘厚及肌内脂肪含量均呈显著差异（P<0.05）,CC和CT基因型个体背膘厚显著高于TT基因型,CT基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于TT和CC基因型;g.G8015>C位点CC基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于GG和GC基因型（P<0.05）;3'UTR区域g.T8496>C位点TC基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于CC和TT基因型（P<0.05）;g.C8578>T位点TT基因型个体背膘厚显著高于CT和CC基因型（P<0.05）。综上,PLIN2基因对秦川肉牛肉质性状发育有一定影响,可作为秦川肉牛现代分子选育的候选参考基因。     

Association between melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene haplotypes and carcass and production traits in Italian Large White pigs evaluated with a selective genotyping approach

Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays a key role in controlling energy homeostasis. Several studies have already reported effects on production traits of polymorphisms identified in the porcine MC4R gene. In this study we analysed data on 6 MC4R polymorphisms (c.-780C>G; c.-135C>T; c.175C>T; c.707G>A or p.Arg236His; and c.892G>A or p.Asp298Asn; c.?430A>T) genotyped from (1) two groups of Italian Large White pigs (280+280 animals) with extreme estimated breeding values (EBVs) for back fat thickness (BFT), selected among a performance tested population of about 12,000 pigs, and from (2) 19 Italian Duroc pigs. Two haplotypes, differentiated by the c.892G>A, were identified in the Duroc populations. Four haplotypes were identified in the Italian Large White population, one of which (haplotype 4) was identified for the first time in this study. Single marker and haplotype association analyses for BFT were obtained by comparing allele and haplotype frequency differences from the two extreme tails using χ² and Cochran–Armitage trend tests. Results confirmed the effects of the c.892G>A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on BFT, as also defined by different distributions in the two tails of haplotypes carrying the alternative nucleotides at this polymorphic site (P<0.01). In addition different distributions of haplotype 4 in the two extreme groups suggested that it might affect the same trait (P<0.10). Association analyses for several other traits (average daily gain, ADG; feed gain ratio, FGR; weight of lean cuts; ham weight) were carried out by using EBVs and Random Residuals: significant effects (P<0.05) were only found for the p.Asp298Asn mutation on ADG and FGR. Results did not support any relevant effect of the p.Arg236His mutation on any trait. Data reported in this study contribute to better understand the role of MC4R variants in affecting production traits in pigs, a prerequisite to consider polymorphisms in this gene for marker assisted selection.     

猪肉质性状功能基因在野猪群体内的变异研究

本试验旨在研究猪肉质性状功能基因突变位点在野猪群体里面的遗传变异规律。以MC4R基因(D298N G>A)、RYR1基因(c.1843 C>T)、PRKAG3基因(1849 G>A)和IGF2基因(3072 G>A)突变位点为基础,通过PCR-RFLP、PCR-SSCP技术,对72头圈养野猪群体进行突变位点的多态性检测和群体遗传变异分析。结果表明,RYR1基因在c.1843 C>T突变位点的CC基因型为野猪群体内的优势基因型,等位基因C是野猪群体内的优势基因,没有TT基因型,该突变位点处于不平衡状态(P<0.01和P<0.05)。在MC4R基因D298N G>A突变位点上,GG基因型为野猪群体内的优势基因型,等位基因G是野猪群体内的优势基因。而PRKAG3基因(1849 G>A)的突变位点检测结果是GG基因型为野猪群体内的优势基因型,等位基因G是野猪群体内的优势基因,没有发现AA基因型。IGF2基因3072 G>A在野猪群体内没有发现多态性,经测序验证全部为GG基因型。这3个基因突变都处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P>0.05)。本研究得出该野猪种群体遗传多样性和变异较小,符合其品种特性。     

野猪、松辽黑母猪及其杂交一代多性状功能基因分子遗传标记研究

本研究旨在应用"中芯一号"家猪分子育种基因芯片了解试验猪群重要经济性状功能基因遗传变异,为选留优秀育种个体提供有效信息。选择影响猪脂肪沉积、肉质、生长、抗病和被毛表型等性状功能基因有效突变位点作为分子遗传选育标记,以野猪、松辽黑母猪及其杂交一代共计106头个体作为实验动物模型,通过"中芯一号"猪分子育种芯片检测,对试验猪不同性状功能基因有效突变位点进行统计分析。结果表明,猪脂肪沉积性状功能基因（SCD和MYH4）有效突变位点在试验猪群中全部是肌内脂肪沉积有利基因型（CC、TT）;肉质性状功能基因（PHKG1、PRKAG3和RYR1）有效突变位点,除了21头猪携带有RYR1功能基因有效突变位点对肉质性状不利的等位基因T外（杂合基因型CT）,其他个体全部为肉质性状有利基因型（CC、GG、CC）;抗病性状功能基因MUC13有效突变位点的抗病有利等位基因纯合基因型（GG）所占比例高于杂合（GA）和不利等位基因纯合基因型（AA）;生长性状功能基因（HMGA1、VRTN和CCKAR）有效突变位点检测发现,猪群中没有增加体长趋势的HMGA1突变位点的TT基因型个体,仅有1个杂合体;肋骨数功能基因VRTN有效突变位点T等位基因频率高,对个体的胸椎数有增加趋势;功能基因CCKAR有效突变位点全部是有利于增加采食及日增重的C等位基因纯合基因型;被毛表型性状KIT功能基因有效突变位点在所有检测猪个体呈现出GG基因型,说明研究猪群中不存在影响白色被毛表型的基因突变位点,与试验猪群被毛表型结果一致。以上结果为猪群进一步育种规划提供了有益信息。     

藏羊脂联素基因多态性及其与产肉性能的相关性分析

利用高分辨率熔解曲线技术对176头2周岁的甘肃藏羊（欧拉型、甘加型、乔科型）脂联素基因SNPs位点进行检测,运用GLM模型将检测到的SNPs位点与部分胴体及肉质性状的相关性进行了分析.结果表明：在脂联素第2外显子发现＋67G＞C突变使编码氨基酸由谷氨酸突变为谷氨酰胺;GG、GC基因型个体的宰前活重、胴体重均显著高于CC型（P＜0.05）.说明脂联素基因该位点可能是影响藏羊胴体及肉质性状的主效QTL或与之紧密连锁,可作为藏羊高档羊肉生产的候选分子标记.     

Association of ADSL gene polymorphisms with meat quality and carcass traits in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

ABSTRACT

1. Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) plays an important role in the synthesis of inosine monophosphate (IMP). In this trial, a total of 200 pigeons were sampled and slaughtered. Seven meat quality traits and 11 carcass traits were measured. DNA sequencing was used to detect nucleotide mutations, and associations between ADSL gene polymorphisms and meat quality and carcass traits were analysed.

2. Sequencing results showed that 9 nucleotide mutations were found in the exons of the ADSL gene. All the mutations were synonymous except C13065G, which caused a change in amino acids (Ser to Arg). In addition, two of the detected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) had significant associations with meat quality and carcass traits.

3. For the C13065G SNP located in exon11, the IMP content of breast muscle in AA and AB genotype was higher than in the BB genotype (P < 0.01). The SNP G10696A located in exon10 was significantly associated with carcass rate, in which AA and AB genotype were higher than the BB genotype (P < 0.01).

4. The results indicated that the ADSL gene has a close association with meat quality and carcass traits in domestic pigeons, and G10696A and C13065G SNPs could be applied as genetic markers in molecular marker-assisted breeding of pigeons.     

玉树马和德保矮马SLC36A1基因多态性研究

 控制马香槟毛色的CH（Champagne gene）基因家族包含4个候选基因（SLC36A1、SLC36A2、SLC36A3、SPARC）,研究发现SLC36A1基因外显子2的突变是造成马香槟毛色的关键位点。为揭示中国马SLC36A1基因遗传多态性,本研究以玉树马和德保矮马共74个样本为研究对象,以马DNA池为模板扩增SLC36A1基因的10个外显子及部分内含子序列并进行测序分析。共发现马SLC36A1基因5个SNPs,分别位于内含子3（g.26699953 A>G, g.26699851 G>C, g.26699850 G>C）,外显子4（g.26699562 G>A）及外显子6（g.26697018 C>T）。利用PCR RFLP方法对74个家马样本进行基因分型,发现外显子6的SNP有基因型CC、CT;外显子4的SNP有基因型GG、GA;内含子3的g.26699850 G>C突变有基因型GG、GC;内含子3的另外2个SNPs（g.26699953 A>G, g.26699851 G>C）通过测序,发现有AA、AG、GG与GG、GC、CC基因型。所有5个马SNPs均为野生型占主要优势。由此界定了马SLC36A1基因有9种单倍型（H1 H9）,其中H5是最主要的单倍型。德保矮马遗传多样度为0.4190,比玉树马（0.2228）高,表明德保矮马香槟毛色遗传多态性比玉树马更丰富。玉树马与德保矮马的平均单倍型多样度为0.3160,表明其香槟毛色遗传多态性相对较低。     

Association between novel variants in BMPR1B gene and litter size in Mongolia and Ujimqin sheep breeds

Prolificacy is an important trait of animals, specifically for sheep. The Bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B (BMPR1B) is a major gene affecting the litter size of many sheep breeds. The well-known FecB mutation (Q249R) was associated fully with the hyper prolific phenotype of Booroola Merino. However, the identification of variation in all exonic regions of BMPR1B was rare. In this study, we sequenced all exonic regions of BMPR1B gene of Mongolia sheep breed, and ten novel variants were detected by direct sequencing. Among them, the litter size of the Mongolia ewes with the CC genotype was significantly higher (0.34 additional lambs, p < .05) than those with the TT genotype of the g.29346567C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The litter size of the Mongolia ewes with the TT genotype was significantly higher (0.19 additional lambs, p < .05 and .31 additional lambs, p < .01, respectively) than those with the GT and GG genotypes of the c.1470G>T SNP. The silent c.1470G>T mutation is predicted to increase the stability of the mRNA secondary structure through reducing minimum free energy and is predicted to change the mRNA secondary structure of BMPR1B. Our findings may give potentially useful genetic markers for increasing litter size in sheep.     

Association of MYF5 and KLF15 gene polymorphisms with carcass traits in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

1. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the exons of the myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) and Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) genes were identified and analysed by using DNA sequencing methods in 60 female domestic pigeons (Columba livia).

2. Five SNPs (T5067A, C5084T, C5101T, T5127A and C5154G) were detected in exon 3 of MYF5 and 6 SNPs (C1398T, C1464T, G1542A, C1929T, G1965A and A2355G) were found in exon 2 of KLF15, respectively. The analysis revealed three genotypes, in which the AA genotype was dominant and the A allele showed a dominant advantage.

3. For the MYF5 gene, the C5084T and T5127A SNP genotypes were significantly associated with carcass traits of pigeons. Within those two SNPs, the BB genotype showed relatively higher trait association values than those of AA or AB genotypes. No significant association was observed between the KLF15 SNP genotypes and carcass traits.

4. These results indicated that the MYF5 gene is a potential major gene affecting carcass traits in domestic pigeons. The BB genotype of the C5084T and T5127A SNPs could be a potential candidate genetic marker for marker-assisted selection in pigeon.

     

A note on cloning and analysis of the osteopontin gene with egg quality traits in two Chinese domestic ducks

ABSTRACT

1. Osteopontin (OPN) is a highly phosphorylated acidic glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in eggshell formation. In this study, an 893-bp cDNA sequence of the OPN gene, which encodes 180 amino acids, was obtained.

2. Polymorphisms of the OPN gene were analysed with DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism methods in two Chinese domestic laying ducks (Jingding n = 100, Youxian n = 478, respectively).

3. One polymorphism was identified in exon 7 (NM_ 004676534.1:c.267T>C) of the OPN gene, with three genotypes: TT (both T allels weren’t mutated (wild type)), TC (one T allel was mutated to C (heterozygote genotype)) and CC. (both T allels were mutated to C (homozygote 20 genotype)) Association analysis with egg quality traits in the two Chinese domestic laying ducks showed that the ducks with the CC genotype had significantly greater eggshell strength and eggshell thickness (p < 0.05). Hence, the exon 7 267T>C polymorphism of the OPN gene is a potentially valuable genetic marker for laying duck breeding programmes.     

Relationship between perilipin genes polymorphisms and growth,carcass and meat quality traits in pigs

The perilipins (PLIN) belong to a family of structural proteins that play a role regulating intracellular lipid storage and mobilization. Here, PLIN1 and PLIN2 have been evaluated as candidate genes for growth, carcass and meat quality traits in pigs. A sample of 607 Duroc pigs were genotyped for two single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, one in intron 2 of the PLIN1 gene (JN860199:g.173G>A) and the other at the 3′ untranslated region of the PLIN2 gene (GU461317:g.98G>A). Using a Bayesian approach, we have been able to find evidence of additive, dominant and epistatic associations of the PLIN1 and PLIN2 polymorphisms with early growth rate and carcass length. However, the major effects were produced by the dominant A allele at the PLIN2 polymorphism, which also affected the carcass lean weight. Thus, pigs carrying an additional copy of the A allele at the g.98G>A PLIN2 polymorphism had a probability of at least 98% of producing carcasses with heavier lean weight (+0.41 kg) and ham weight (+0.10 kg). The results obtained indicate that the PLIN2 polymorphism could be a useful marker for lean growth. In particular, it may help to reduce the undesired negative correlated response in lean weight to selection for increased intramuscular fat content, a common scenario in some Duroc lines involved in the production of high quality pork products.