Variation of 184C→T of goat callipyge gene in different populations and its effect on body weight

Abstract

In order to investigate its distribution in different goat populations, one SNP (184C→T, corresponding to AY850925) of goat callipyge (CLPG) gene recognized by Fork I was identified after sequencing 23 individuals from 10 breeds. PCR-RFLP was carried out according to the variation site in 584 goats of 14 populations from 11 provinces and autonomous regions in China. An interesting result was found that the Boer goat having the characteristics of double muscle had significantly higher T allele (0.2465) frequency and lower C allele (0.7535) frequency compared to other breeds. It could be inferred that the 184C→T mutation might be related to the double muscle characteristics of the Boer goat. The general linear model analysis showed that parental genotype had significant effect on the body weight of their offspring at different ages. It could be inferred that transition of 184C→T might be a paternal imprinting form, a polar over-dominance, in which only individuals that received the allele from their mother expressed the callipyge phenotype. The double muscle characteristics of the Boer goat might be related to its maternal genotype. More data with detailed information need to be investigated in order to confirm this assumption.