Novel AluI-polymorphism in the fourth intron of chicken growth hormone gene

Abstract

A novel AluI-polymorphism in the fourth intron of chicken growth hormone gene was shown. It was detected the cytosine to thymine transition in the restriction site for AluI. Primers, that flanking the 460 bp fragment of the fourth intron, containing a polymorphic restriction site for AluI, was designed. The nucleotide sequence fragments amplified polymorphic variants was determined. Using designed primers was analyzed the genetic structure of populations of White Plymouth Rock, Poltava Clay, Rhode Island Red and Borkovskaya Barvistaya chicken breeds. It was found that growth hormone gene (by AluI-polymorphism in the fourthintron) was polymorphic in all experimental populations. Frequencies of alleles C and T in chicken population of White Plymouth Rock breed were 0,14 and 0,86; Rhode Island Red – 0,3 and 0,7; Poltava Clay – 0,04 and 0,96; Borkovskaya Barvistaya – 0,08 and 0,92 respectively. The tendency to increase egg production and egg weight of chicken with C/C genotype, as well as meat quality (live weight, carcass weight, weight of pectoral muscles) of chickens with genotype T/T of Rhode Island Red chicken breed was shown.