The Genetic Polymorphisms in Leptin Gene Locus (Obesity Gene) in Romanian Farm Species and Their Evaluation as Genetic Markers in Breeding and Traceability

Abstract

Leptin is a key hormone which modulates the neuroendocrine control fat reserves in organism, appetite, body weight and energy balance (Leifers et al. 2002). The leptin gene (obesity gene) polymorphism was associated in different farm species with different quantitative and qualitative characters with an increased economic importance (Carsai et al. 2005). In cattle the A allele was associated with a high quality meat and carcasses, a higher milk quantity and quality (Leifers et al. 2002). Identification of some polymorphisms in leptin gene and establishment of some associations between these genotypes and food consumption, daily weight gain, adipose tissue quantity, carcass weight, milk quantity and quality, represents a solution for optimization and speeding up of breeding process, by early use in selection of the information provided by this genetic marker.