Melatonin Receptor A Gene, Melatonin Receptor C Gene and Ovocalyxin-32 gene polymorphisms associated with some Egg Production in Local Iraqi Chicken

Abstract

The aim of this research is to detect genetic polymorphisms of some candidate genes associated with eggproduction trait and to find the relationship between some of these genetic sites and the productive traitsof Local Iraqi chickens that will be used for the national poultry breeding programs to increase quality eggproduction in endogenous chicken. Genomic DNA were extracted and then amplified three genes (melatoninreceptor a gene MTNRa, melatonin receptor c gene MTNRc and ovocalyxin-32 gene (OCX-32). (MTNRa)gene amplified by PCR-SSCP method. The distribution of percentages in female Iraqi Local chicken studiedfor (MTNRa) were 73, 20, 5 and 2% for TN, TNA, NN and TT SSCP-genotype respectively. It turnedout that phenotypic polymorphisms of MTNRa gene was significant (p<0.05) with Serum Melatonin andMagnesium concentrations, in addition to First egg weight FEW and Body weight at maturity. (MTNRc)gene amplified by PCR-RFLP method, the distribution of percentages of MTNRc genetic location in femaleIraqi Local chicken Flock studied were 23, 61 and 16 % for MM, Mm, mm RFLP-genotype respectively, itturned out that phenotypic diversity of MTNRc gene was significant (p<0.05) in mean of Serum Melatoninand Magnesium concentration, in addition to First egg weight FEW and Body weight at maturity. (OCX-32)gene amplified by PCR-SSCP method. The distribution of percentages in female Iraqi Local chicken studiedwere 98 and 2% for WS and SS (SSCP-genotype) respectively. It turned out that phenotypic polymorphismsof OCX-32 genetic site were significant (p<0.05) with serum Melatonin and Magnesium concentration andBody weight at maturity. The present research suggests that the genes MTNRa, MTNRc and OCX-32 couldbe used as a possible marker in Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) and genomic selection programs for localIraqi chickens.