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Association of Polymorphisms in Fecundity Genes of GDF9, BMP15 and BMP15-1B with Litter Size in Iranian Baluchi Sheep |
F. Moradband, G. Rahimi, M. Gholizadeh |
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Abstract |
The incidence of mutation in three loci of GDF9, BMP15 and BMP15-1B and their effects on litter sizes was evaluated in Baluchi sheep. Wild-type alleles were detected for BMP15 and BMP15-1B loci and all individuals were found to be as non-carriers for FecB and FecXG mutations but, a G to A nucleotide substitution was found in GDF9 locus. The frequency of FecG+ (0.82) wild type allele was higher than the frequency of FecG1 (0.18) mutant allele and the frequencies of FecG+/FecG+, FecG+/FecG1 and FecG1/FecG1 genotypes were 0.72, 0.20 and 0.08, respectively in GDF9 locus. The heterozygous (FecG+/FecG1) and homozygous (FecG+/FecG+) non-carrier ewes had 0.35 and 0.21 more lambs than the homozygous (FecG1/FecG1) carrier ewes, respectively (p<0.05). In addition to the finding of segregation of non-additive gene effect on litter size in the previous study in Baluchi sheep, these findings for the first time shows that the FecG1 gene has a major effect on litter size in this breed. |
Keywords:
BMP15; BMP15-1B; GDF9; Litter Size; Baluchi Sheep |
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