Black Goats Research Articles

Cadmium Exposure Affects Serum Metabolites and Proteins in the Male Guizhou Black Goat.

Food safety and environmental pollution are the hotspots of general concern globally. Notably, long-term accumulation of trace toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), in animals may endanger human health via the food chain. The mechanism of Cd toxicity in the goat, a popular farmed animal, has not been extensively investigated to date. Therefore, in this study, ten male goats (Nubian black goat × native black goat) were exposed to Cd via drinking water containing CdCl2 (20 mg Cd·kg-1·BW) for 30 days (five male goats per group). In this study, we used an integrated approach combining proteomics and metabolomics to profile proteins and metabolites in the serum of Cd-exposed goats. It was found that Cd exposure impacted the levels of 30 serum metabolites and 108 proteins. The combined proteomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that Cd exposure affected arginine and proline metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. Further, antioxidant capacity in the serum of goats exposed to Cd was reduced. We identified CKM and spermidine as potential protein and metabolic markers, respectively, of early Cd toxicity in the goat. This study details approaches for the early diagnosis and prevention of Cd-poisoned goats.

Saphenophemoral Junction and its Related Anatomical Variation in Black Bengal Goat

Blood circulation especially venous distribution is an important subject in any kind of surgical procedure. In the case of the hind leg from the ankle to the groin blood is supplied by the saphenous vein. For venous drainage in hind limbs saphenous vein has a significant role that extends from the ankle to the groin. Basically median and lateral saphenous veins join together as great saphenous veins and enter into gastrocnemius muscle. The ventral to the muscle layer of the tensor fascia lata saphenous vein joins with the femoral vein and forms a junction, which is known as the saphenofemoral junction. It’s also known as the great saphenous vein. Between the deep and aponeurotic fascia of the tensor fascia lata saphenous vein has been found. Many tributaries such as the circumflex iliac vein, external pudendal, and deep pudendal vein were examined in this case. Four cadaveric lower limbs were dissected to examine anatomical variations of these veins and describe their relation to the deep fascia of the thigh. A saphenous compartment is actually a triangular structure. This triangular space is formed by the adductor muscle, fascia lata, and Sartorius muscle. The range of saphenous veins in the saphenous compartment ranged from 5.7-8.1 (7±1.3) cm.

Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Inorganic and Organic Chromium on Body Conformation, Carcass Traits, and Nutrient Composition in Muscle and Internal Organs of Black Bengal Goats.

The effect of dietary inorganic and organic chromium (Cr) on body morphometry, carcass traits, and nutrient composition, including different minerals and fatty acids in meat and internal organs of Black Bengal goats, was studied. Thirty weaned Black Bengal kids of 3-5months (5.40 ± 0.34kg body weight) were assigned randomly into five groups and fed additional Cr for 150days. The experimental diets comprised a basal diet supplemented with Cr at the rate of 0 (control; without Cr supplementation), 1.0 and 1.5mg/kg of inorganic Cr (Cr(III)-chloride), and 1.0 and 1.5mg/kg of organic Cr (Cr-yeast). The body morphometry such as body length, heart girth, paunch girth, loin width, leg circumference, and the carcass traits, namely, slaughter body weight, dressing percentage, hind quarter and forequarter weight, and rib eye area of goats, were not significantly (P < 0.05) changed due to inorganic and organic Cr supplementation. However, organic Cr supplementation (1.0 and 1.5mg/kg) resulted in a reduction of breast and back fat thickness (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. The weights of internal organs including liver, lungs, spleen, kidney, testes, and heart and their weights as a percentage of slaughter weight were similar (P > 0.05) among different experimental groups. Dry matter, ether extract, and total ash concentrations of muscle and internal organs of Cr-supplemented groups were not affected (P > 0.05) by Cr supplementation. However, crude protein contents in the liver, muscle, kidney, and lungs were greater (P < 0.05) in the organic Cr groups than in the control and inorganic Cr groups. In meat (longissimus dorsi muscle), total saturated fatty acid concentration was lower (P < 0.05; 59.4% versus 55.7%) and the unsaturated fatty acid concentration was greater (P < 0.05; 40.6% versus 44.3%) including palmitoleic acid, heptadecenoic acid, elaidic acid, and arachidonic acid in the organic or inorganic Cr-supplemented groups than in the basal diet group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of organic Cr in Black Bengal goats has no influence on the carcass traits, but may improve the meat quality with greater protein content, lean, and healthier fatty acids for human consumption.

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses reveal the key genes regulating differential metabolites of longissimus dorsi muscle in castrated South Sichuan black goats (Capra hircus).

The main aim of the current work was to explore the differential metabolites and differentially expressed genes of longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) between castrated and uncastrated fattening male South Sichuan black goats (Capra hircus). Then, the key genes regulating important differential metabolites (DMs) in castrated male goats were observed by integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses. In addition, we evaluated the effects of castration on blood constituents, dressing percentage, and water holding capacity of LDM in male black goats. The results showed that the concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly increased and testosterone was significantly decreased in castrated male goats compared with the uncastrated male goats, while dressing percentage of black goats and water holding capacity of longissimus dorsi muscle were not significant differences. Through metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, 23 important KEGG pathways, 13 important DMs, 32 important differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 13 key genes related to the "Metabolism" and "Organismal systems" pathways were screened. Lipid accumulation may be elevated in the blood of fattening South Sichuan black goats after castration. Castration might play a positive role in energy provision, intercellular signaling, muscle function, softening of meat, disease reduction, and anti-oxidation of LDM. P4HA2, AKR1B1, GPT2, L2HGDH, ENSCHIG00000021660, ENSCHIG00000023861, DGAT2, ULK1, SLC38A3, PLA2G4A, SLC6A1, ENSCHIG00000026624, and ND2 might be the key genes regulating important DMs in the KEGG pathways related to "Metabolism" and "Organismal systems" of castrated male goats compared with the uncastrated male goats.

England versus Sicily in Pirandello's “The black baby goat”

Con il racconto “Il capretto nero,” Pirandello vuole resistere e sfatare l'articolazione di un discorso razziale, descrittivo e prescrittivo, che si era venuto ad articolare in Europa durante la modernità. Alternando commenti umoristici a quelli ironici, Pirandello mette in risalto la sua diffidenza verso il trionfo del razionalismo e del realismo che la modernità aveva imposto in Europa e che aveva sciaguratamente generato il darwinismo sociale e l’eugenetica. Da una condanna del razionalismo, Pirandello passa ad una critica nazional-politica che verte sulla mancata creazione di una vera unità d’Italia.

Bacterial diversity between solid and liquid fractions of rumen digesta from Korean native black goat, Hanwoo cattle, and Holstein Friesian cattle

Bacterial diversity between solid and liquid fractions of rumen digesta from Korean native black goat, Hanwoo cattle, and Holstein Friesian cattle

SEMA4G targeted by miR‐363‐5p regulates the proliferation of granulosa cells in Yunshang black goats

AbstractProliferation of granular cells (GCs) plays an important role in ovary development, providing energy and a microenvironment for oocyte ovulation. In this study, we explored the spatiotemporal expression of SEMA4G and its effects on the growth and development of goat GCs using primary GCs cultured in vitro as a model. The results showed that the expression level of SEMA4G was significantly higher in the ovaries of high‐fertility goats than in those of low‐fertility goats (p &lt; 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of the cell proliferation markers of GCs were significantly increased after the overexpression of SEMA4G in goat primary GCs. The EdU and CCK8 results showed that cell viability was elevated in goat GCs and that proliferation was promoted by an increase in the number of proliferating cells. The proliferation of goat GCs was significantly inhibited by SEMA4G inhibition (p &lt; 0.05). The results of online miRNA and target gene prediction software and dual luciferase activity analysis confirmed that SEMA4G could bind to mi‐363‐5p and was one of its target genes. The RT‒qPCR results showed that the expression level of miR‐363‐5p was significantly lower in the ovaries of high‐fertility goats than in those of low‐fertility goats in contrast to the expression level of SEMA4G (p &lt; 0.05). After the overexpression of miR‐363‐5p in goat GCs, the expression of SEMA4G was significantly suppressed (p &lt; 0.05). Collectively, the results of this study could lay the foundation for exploring the molecular mechanisms by which SEMA4G and miR‐363‐5p regulate the growth and development of goat GCs and provide targets for breeding high‐fertility goats.

Surgical correction of omphalocele in local goat breed (Beetal) of Jhang, Punjab: A case study

Omphalocele is a rare congenital condition where closure defects in the abdominal wall at the umbilical ring lead to the protrusion of intestinal or other visceral organs, covered by a thin epithelial layer. The developmental mechanism of this condition is not fully understood, and various theories have been proposed to explain it. This study presents a case of omphalocele in a newborn female black goat kid, detailing its clinical presentation, surgical management, and postoperative care. The surgical procedure involved meticulous preparation of the surgical site, administration of local anesthesia, and careful repositioning of the intestines, liver, and a portion of the spleen. Excess skin and the amnion membrane were removed to facilitate safe repositioning, and the umbilical ring was excised to widen the opening. The abdominal wall layers were meticulously closed using appropriate suture materials. The kid’s postoperative recovery was uneventful, with normal vital signs, fecal passage, and feeding behavior observed. The study discusses omphalocele in comparison to other abdominal abnormalities and explores potential developmental mechanisms. The authors emphasize the importance of immediate surgical intervention despite varying prognoses associated with this condition. The study underscores the significance of surgical treatment for omphalocele cases in newborn goat kids, providing hope for affected animals and valuable insights for veterinary professionals. Although the exact prevalence of omphalocele remains uncertain due to unreported cases, this report demonstrates successful surgical correction and the potential for curing the condition if diagnosed and treated promptly. Further research is needed to fully understand the genetic and environmental factors contributing to omphalocele and its impact on livestock.

Linkage disequilibrium and effective population size in Indian goat breeds

Genomic linkage disequilibrium (LD) is an important population diversity measure and an indicator determining the efficacy of genomic applications. The present population genomic study was carried out to comprehensively characterise the extent and pattern of LD in the two divergent Indian goat breeds namely, Attappady Black and Malabari goats reared under small holder production system. The LD was estimated using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data obtained by Illumina SNP50 goat BeadChip genotyping. The LD between adjacent SNPs across all autosomes measured as correlation coefficient (r2) in the studied population was low and mean ± standard deviation of LD were 0.0657 ± 0.0921 and 0.0661 ± 0.0911 for Attappady Black and Malabari goats, respectively. The LD varied significantly (p < 0.0001) among chromosomes, interaction between chromosome and breed and among marker intervals. The LD (r2) of 0.2 and 0.3 were extended up to 20 kb and 10 kb marker intervals, respectively. Based on the genomic data, Ne was estimated as 512.8198 in Malabari and 371.2220 in Attappady Black goats at 17 generations back. The weak LD observed in Indian goat breeds indicates increased diversity of these Indian goat breeds and also implies that denser SNP panel might be more beneficial for genomic applications.

Exogenous Testosterone Causes Delayed Postnatal Testicular Development and Disrupts Spermatogenesis

Proper postnatal development of testis is prerequisite for acquisition of full functional potential of testis. The initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis depend on testosterone, and the production of mature sperm is highly reliant on androgen activity in the testis. The goal of the study was to investigate the effect of exogenous testosterone on testicular biometry and histomorphometry, and seminiferous epithelium in Black Bengal goat during the postnatal development. A total of 42 Black Bengal goats were divided into two categories: control and testosterone-treated; and each group again subdivided into seven groups (n=3) according to age, viz. group-I (at birth or day 0; d0), group-II (1 week of age), group-III (2 weeks), group-IV (1 month), group-V (2 months), group-VI (4 months), and group-VII (6 months). Goat kids of testosterone-treated group were injected with testosterone hormone @ 125 mg/kid (0.5 ml of Testanon™ 250 Injection, IM, 250 mg/ml, Nuvista Pharma Ltd., Bangladesh) IM weekly until the sample collection. The testicular development was slow up to 2 weeks of age, and after that, in control goats, a quick growth of the testicles was seen. In contrast, a slow trend of testicular development was continuous throughout the study period (postnatal 6 months) in testosterone-treated goats. A continuous and gradual developmental process of testis was observed in control goats. Seminiferous tubules were shown to have a marked increase in diameter at 4 months indicates initiation of spermatogenesis at this age, and completion of the first wave of spermatogenesis, i.e. establishment of spermatogenesis was observed by 6 months of age as confirmed by the presence of all types of cells of spermatogenic lineage in the seminiferous epithelium including spermatozoa were found attached to the Sertoli cells at their ad luminal border, and in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Continuous administration of exogenous testosterone exerted a negative effect on the postnatal developmental process of testis of Black Bengal goats. The postnatal developmental process of testis was very slow, and the proliferation of spermatogonia and lumenization of the seminiferous tubules, also known as seminiferous epithelium stratification, were not seen in testosterone-treated goats until they were 6 months old indicates delayed postnatal testicular development and disrupts spermatogenesis.&#x0D; J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 4(1): 25-36, 2022

Comparative Quality Traits, Flavor Compounds, and Metabolite Profile of Korean Native Black Goat Meat.

Although goat meat has several health benefits than other red meats but comsumers reluctant it due to its unpleasant flavor. This study aimed to investigate the odorant of goat meat as well as compare the quality traits of meat regarding sex status. The loin meats [non-castrated male (NCM), castrated male (CM), and female (FM)] were collected and stored at 4°C in a laboratory refrigerator and analyzed on the 1st, 5th, and 8th consecutive days. The moisture content was the lowest and the protein content was highest in FM (p<0.05). Fat and ash content in NCM and FM were similar while lowest in CM. The CIE L* was significantly higher in NCM, but there were no significant differences of CIE a* and CIE b* within groups at initial day. The color intensity increased on the 5th storage day and decreased again after the 8th storage day, except in NCM. NCM displayed the highest thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value (p<0.05), whereas CM displayed a higher pH value than other groups throughout the storage period. Indole levels were the highest in NCM (0.031 mg/kg); however, skatole levels were not significant differences across all treatments (p>0.05). No significant difference was observed in the fatty acid composition between NCM and CM (p>0.05), whereas a significant difference was observed in FM (p<0.05). Most of the water-soluble metabolites showed significant differences between sexes. Overall, sex status effects on quality properties of meat and castration can improve the overall sensory acceptance by reducing goaty flavor of Korean native black goat meat.

EFFECT OF SEX AND SLAUGHTER WEIGHT ON MEAT QUALITY OF BLACK GOAT AND MERIZ KIDS

The objectives of this work was to study the effect of sex and weight at slaughter on meat quality in the longissimus muscle of Black goat and Meriz goat .Twenty four weaned kids from each breed were divided equally and penned individually into two groups .The 1st was castrated using rubber ring ,and the 2nd was left intact ,and was assigned to be slaughtered at 15,20 and 25 kg live body weight .The overall means of pH, lightness ,redness ,yellowness, drip loss, cooking loss and tenderness were 5.94±0.009 , 46±1.16 , 20.01±0.68 , 35.68±0.78 ,0.25±0.01, 12.17±0.35 ,1.65 ±0.008, respectively. Results revealed neither breed nor sex had a significant effect (p&gt;0.05) on pH, color, drip loss, cooking loss and tenderness. It seems that kids slaughtered at 15 kg had more lightness, have more drip loss, and lower cooking loss as compared with kids slaughtered at 20 and 25 kg.

A black goat-derived novel genotype of Aichi virus C blurs the boundary between caprine and porcine kobuviruses

Aichi virus C, a species in the genus Kobuvirus, causes diarrhea diseases in pigs and goats and pose health threat and economic loss for stock farming. A nearly complete genome sequence of caprine kobuvirus GCCDC14 was obtained from an anal swab of a black goat died from diarrhea collected in Hubei, China in 2019. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that GCCDC14 is a novel genotype of Aichi virus C, forming a sister branch to other caprine kobuviruses, with P1 and VP0 genes more closely related to porcine kobuviruses and VP3 in an independent branch. Compared to previous caprine kobuviruses, unique amino acid changes in the poly-l-proline type II helix structure of VP0 and VP1 were found, which may affect the cellular machinery of host and pathogenicity. This study indicates the presence of the kobuvirus with continuously evolving features and emphasizes the surveillance and genetic evolution investigation of kobuviruses for safety of husbandry.

Number of Ovulation Observed in Black Bengal Goats by Ultrasound Imaging and its Subsequent Confirmation through Exploratory Laparotomy

Number of Ovulation Observed in Black Bengal Goats by Ultrasound Imaging and its Subsequent Confirmation through Exploratory Laparotomy

Histological study of oviduct in adult Iraqi Black Goat

The present study was aimed at the light microscopic examination of the oviduct and show epithelium structure of the iraqi goat oviduct, determination of the histochemical structure of the mucus secreted by epithelial cells, and muscular layers of The oviducts of Twelve healthy adult goat constituted the material of the study. using routine histological techniques by using Hematoxylin and eosin , masson trichrom for Histochemically, it was observed by using Pas Alcian Histological observations revealed that the oviduct consists of 4 layers of mucosa, submucosa, tunica muscularis and serosa. The primary and secondary folds increase both in number and in height in infundibulum and ampulla while less in number in isthmus. Epithelium of folds was composed of simple columnar, although seems pseudostratified in some areas, and contains ciliated and secretory cells. Histomorphometric examinations of three regions demonstrated that the mean height of primary folds increase and the mean thickness of tunica muscularis in isthmus The mean thickness of mucosa-submucosa in ampulla More visibility of the ciliated cells and mucosal folds in infundibulum and ampulla the thick tunica muscularis in isthmus transports sperm cells up; and both require promoting secretory products were increased in the tip of the mucosal fold than in the base. Conclusion By using light microscopic examinations lined by pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium. Mucosal folds were maximum in number in the tubual part of infundibulum, ampulla and least in isthmus in all stages of the animal. The propria–submucosa was comprised of loose connective tissue with blood vessels, abundant amount of collagen fibres and few reticular fibers histochemical staining demonstrated by means of the PAS reaction, and it was observed that secretion increased progressively towards the isthmus.

Study of Local Black Iraqi Goats Genotypes for the Cytb Gene.

Goats are the earliest domesticated ruminants. The local goat, Capra hircus, is considered one of the most important animals globally to provide good livestock production under harsh environmental conditions. This study aimed to detect the genetic structures of the local Iraqi goats bred in the central and southern regions of the country and investigate the possibility of benefiting from their genetic structures to construct improvement programs for increasing the productivity of these animals. To this end, blood samples were taken from 15 domestic black goats. A total of 10 ml of each animal's blood was placed in plastic containers of 10 ml. The DNA was extracted and sent to the laboratories of Juan Ju University, People's Republic of China, to analyze the sequences of the nitrogenous bases of the Cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. The results showed the presence of a genetic morphology for a segment of 670 base pairs for all the studied samples, and 15 sequences of this strain were recorded in the gene bank under the following accession numbers (LC496353.1:1-LC496367.1:1). The sequences of the nitrogenous bases of this segment of the gene, which were registered in the gene bank of some international goat breeds, were used for comparison with the sequences of black Iraqi goats to analyze the phylogenetic tree, calculate the genetic distance, study haplotypes, and calculate neutrality. The results showed the presence of one mutation in the studied segment of the Cytb gene, with a size of 670 bp. The mutation in base 46 of the studied gene converted from the purine group to the pyrimidine group (the shift from the nitrogen leaders A<C) in all the studied samples. It led to the transformation of the amino acid Asparagine into Histidine, where 233 amino acids were obtained, dominated by the amino acid Isoleucine and Leucine, over other amino acids at a rate of 14.34% and 11.21%, respectively. The phylogenetic tree showed the existence of two main branches, one of which included the local black Iraqi goat breed, and the other included all the international breeds under comparison. It is concluded that the black Iraqi goat breed has a different origin from other breeds.

Measure the Serum Biochemical Profiles (Glucose, Protein, Cholesterol) of Female Black Bengal Goats during Growing and Pregnancy Period

Measure the Serum Biochemical Profiles (Glucose, Protein, Cholesterol) of Female Black Bengal Goats during Growing and Pregnancy Period

Uterus proliferative period ceRNA network of Yunshang black goat reveals candidate genes on different kidding number trait.

Pregnancy loss that occurs in the uterus is an important and widespread problem in humans and farm animals and is also a key factor affecting the fecundity of livestock. Understanding the differences in the fecundity of goats may be helpful in guiding the breeding of goats with high fecundity. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to study the uterus of Yunshang black goats with high and low fecundity in the proliferative period. We identified mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) by analyzing the uterine transcriptomes. The target genes of the identified miRNAs and lncRNAs were predicted, and miRNA-mRNA interaction and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed. By comparisons between low- and high-fecundity groups, we identified 1,674 differentially expressed mRNAs (914 were upregulated, and 760 were downregulated), 288 differentially expressed lncRNAs (149 were upregulated, and 139 were downregulated), and 17 differentially expressed miRNAs (4 were upregulated, and 13 were downregulated). In addition, 49 miRNA-mRNA pairs and 45 miRNA-lncRNA pairs were predicted in the interaction networks. We successfully constructed a ceRNA interaction network with 108 edges that contained 19 miRNAs, 11 mRNAs, and 73 lncRNAs. Five candidate genes (PLEKHA7, FAT2, FN1, SYK, and ITPR2) that were annotated as cell adhesion or calcium membrane channel protein were identified. Our results provide the overall expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs in the goat uterus during the proliferative period and are a valuable reference for studies into the mechanisms associated with the high fecundity, which may be helpful to guide goat to reduce pregnancy loss.

Association between INHA gene polymorphisms and litter size in Hainan black goats.

The inhibin alpha (INHA) gene is one of the important genes affecting the reproductive traits of animals. Hainan black goats are the main goat breed in Hainan Island (China), whose development is limited by low reproductive performance. However, the relationship between INHA gene and the reproductive performance of Hainan black goats is still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to explore the effect of INHA gene polymorphisms on the litter size of Hainan black goats. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of INHA were detected, and the genetic parameters and haplotype frequency of these SNPs were calculated and association analysis was performed for these SNPs with the litter size. Finally, the SNP with significant correlations to litter size was analyzed by Bioinformatics tools. The results showed that the litter size of individuals with the AC genotype at loci g.28317663A>C of INHA gene was significantly higher than those with the AA genotype. This SNP changed the amino acid sequence, which may affect the function of INHA protein by affecting its structure. Our results suggest that g.28317663A>C loci may serve as a potential molecular marker for improving the reproductive traits in Hainan black goats.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the regulatory effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus pumilus on immune and digestive related genes in the spleen of weanling black goats.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 and Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 on the expressions of spleen genes in weanling Jintang black goats. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 (BA-treated group) and Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 (BP-treated group) were directly fed to goats, and the spleens were harvested for transcriptome analysis. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BA-treated vs CON group were mainly involved in digestive system and immune system, while those inBP-treated vs CON group were mainly involved in immune system, and those inBA-treated vs BP-treated group were mainly involved in digestive system. In conclusion, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 might promote the expressions of genesrelated to immune system and digestive system, reduce the expressions of disease genesrelated to digestive system and might promote mutual accommodation of some immune genes in weanling black goat. Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 might promote the expressions of genesrelated to immune system and mutual accommodation of some immune genes in weanling black goat. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 has advantages over Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 in promoting the expressions of genesrelated to digestive system and mutual accommodation of some immune genes.