Grand Dams Research Articles

Evaluation of Reciprocal Cross Design on Detection and Characterization of Non-Mendelian QTL in F2 Outbred Populations: I. Parent-of-origin Effect

A simulation study was conducted to evaluate the effect of reciprocal cross on the detection and characterization of parent-of-origin (POE) QTL in F 2 QTL populations. Data were simulated under two different mating designs. In the one-way cross design, six F 0 grand sires of one breed and 30 F 0 grand dams of another breed generated 10 F 1 offspring per dam. Sixteen F 1 sires and 64 F 1 dams were randomly chosen to produce a total of 640 F 2 offspring. In the reciprocal design, three F 0 grand sires of A breed and 15 F 0 grand dams of B breed were mated to generate 10 F 1 offspring per dam. Eight F 1 sires and 32 F 1 dams were randomly chosen to produce 10 F 2 offspring per F 1 dam, totaling 320 F 2 offspring. Another mating set comprised three F 0 grand sires of B breed and 15 F 0 grand dams of A breed to produce the same number of F 1 and F 2 offspring. A chromosome of 100 cM was simulated with large, medium or small QTL with fixed or different allele frequencies in parental breeds. A series of tests between Mendelian and POE models were applied to characterize QTL as Mendelian, paternal, maternal or partial expression QTL. The overall detection powers were similar between the two mating designs. However, the proportions of paternally expressed QTL that were declared as paternal QTL type were greater in the reciprocal cross design than in the one-way cross, and vice versa for Mendelian QTL. When QTL alleles were segregating in parental breeds, a significant proportion of Mendelian QTL were spuriously declared POE QTL, suggesting that care must be taken to characterize imprinting QTL in a QTL mapping population with a small number of F 1 parents.

Reproductive seasonality of fishes from a lotic stretch of the Grande River, high Paraná river basin, Brazil

We searched for correlations between water level, rainfall, temperature, and reproductive activity of fishes in a lotic stretch of the Grande River below the Volta Grande Dam. Gillnets were used to catch the fish on six field journeys made bimonthly between April 1998 and February 1999. Fish gonads were classified according to maturation grade and the amount of mature or spent gonads was correlated with rainfall and air temperature. Most fish species showed seasonal reproduction (between October and February). The relative frequency of fully mature and spent gonads significantly correlated with rainfall (Spearman r = 0.94, p = 0.005) and air temperature (r = 0.84, p = 0.036), showing the importance of these factors in regulating the reproductive cycle of fishes in this location. Nevertheless, dam operation resulted in minimal water level variation that did not significantly correlate with reproductive activity (r = -0.43, p = 0.396).

Reprodução de peixes (Osteichthyes) em afluentes do reservatório de Volta Grande, Rio Grande, Sudeste do Brasil

The most abundant species caught in the tributaries of the Volta Grande dam, Buriti, Divisa and Agua Comprida streams were Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840), Pimelodus maculatus Lacepede 1803, Myleus tiete (Eigenmann & Norris, 1900), Astyanax bimaculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) and A. fasciatus (Cuvier, 1819). Plagioscion squamosissimus and Pimelodus maculatus do not have reproduction activity in the area, they just use the creeks to food and growth. Myleus tiete and Astyanax bimaculatus use the area to reproduction whereas A. fasciatus uses it to reproduction, food and growth.

A molecular genome scan analysis to identify chromosomal regions influencing economic traits in the pig. II. Meat and muscle composition.

Molecular genetic markers can be used to identify chromosomal regions that contain quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control meat quality and muscle composition traits in farm animals. To study this in pigs, a resource family was generated from a cross between two Berkshire grand sires and nine Yorkshire grand dams. A total of 525 F2 progeny from 65 matings of F1 parents were produced. Phenotypic data on 28 meat quality traits (drip loss, water holding capacity, firmness, color, marbling, percentage cholesterol, ultimate pH, fiber type, and several sensory panel and cooking traits) were collected on the F2 animals. Animals were genotyped for 125 microsatellite markers covering the entire genome. Least squares regression interval mapping was used for QTL detection. Significance thresholds were determined by permutation tests. A total of 60 QTL were detected at the 5% chromosome level for meat quality traits, on Chrs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, and X, of which 9 and 1 QTL were significant at the 5% and 1% genome-wise levels (on Chrs 1, 5, 12, 15, and 17), respectively.

A molecular genome scan analysis to identify chromosomal regions influencing economic traits in the pig. I. Growth and body composition.

Genome scans can be employed to identify chromosomal regions and eventually genes (quantitative trait loci or QTL) that control quantitative traits of economic importance. A three-generation resource family was developed by using two Berkshire grand sires and nine Yorkshire grand dams to detect QTL for growth and body composition traits in pigs. A total of 525 F2 progeny were produced from 65 matings. All F2 animals were phenotyped for birth weight, 16-day weight, growth rate, carcass weight, carcass length, back fat thickness, and loin eye area. Animals were genotyped for 125 microsatellite markers covering the genome. Least squares regression interval mapping was used for QTL detection. All carcass traits were adjusted for live weight at slaughter. A total of 16 significant QTL, as determined by a permutation test, were detected at the 5% chromosome-wise level for growth traits on Chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, and X, of which two were significant at the 5% genome-wise level and two at the 1% genome-wise level (on Chrs 1, 2, and 4). For composition traits, 20 QTL were significant at the 5% chromosome-wise level (on Chrs 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18), of which one was significant at the 5% genome-wise level and three were significant at the 1% genome-wise level (on Chrs 1, 5, and 7). For several QTL the favorable allele originated from the breed with the lower trait mean.

Influência do Rompimento da Barragem do Valo Grande (Iguape, SP) nas Associações de Foraminíferos e Tecamebas.

This paper deals with the probable consequences of the increase of water flow on the hydrographic and sedimentological parameters of the Cananéia-Iguape estuary and their relationship with the foraminifera and thecamoebians assemblages found before and after the Valo Grande dam's disruption. The sedimentological and biological parameters were obtained from each of the sixty samples of the collected bottom sediments. Before the dam’s disruption, the distribution of foraminifera and thecamoebians was apparently influenced by the substrate properties, such as grain size sorting and organic carbon content. After the dam's disruption, the bottom temperature was probably the responsible for the distribution of foraminifera and thecamoebians and for the total Textulariina and Ammonia tepida and Arenoparrella mexicana distribution patterns. Besides. very fine sand and bottom water salinity were probably the most influential factors in the distribution of Difflugia oblonga. Centropyxis aculeate and Centropyxis constricta.

Genetic parameters for feed intake and efficiency in lactating beef cows

Genetic parameters of feed intake and efficiency and production traits for lactating beef cows were estimated from data collected from 1980 to 1988 at the Elora Beef Research Centre, Guelph, Ontario. Estimates were obtained using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) with an individual animal model with year–season–treatment, sex of calf, parity, breeding system, covariate daily change of backfat depth and direct genetic and permanent environmental effects. The data included 1174 observations, 511 cows, 369 dam–maternal grand dam pairs and 245 sires of cows. Feed efficiency for milk was calculated as milk yield relative to energy consumed for milk and maintenance and residual feed consumption as estimated energy intake minus energy requirements as estimated by the National Research Council. Heritabilities for Herefords alone and total data, respectively, were estimated to be 0.02 and 0.11 for cow's daily ME intake (MEI), 0.26 and 0.26 for daily milk yield (DMY), 0.45 and 0.33 for milk fat percentage (MFP), 0.29 and 0.40 for metabolic body weight (MBW), 0.21 and 0.10 for calf weaning weight as a proportion of cow weight at weaning (PPW), 0.18 and 0.11 for feed efficiency for milk (FE), and 0.23 and 0.03 for residual feed consumption (RFC). Genetic correlations of output (DMY) and input (MEI) were 0.31 for Hereford and 0.75 for the total data. Genetic correlations of RFC with both output (DMY) and input (MEI) were low. Genetically, PPW was positively associated with FE and DMY and negatively associated with MBW. Key words: Genetic parameters, feed efficiency, lactation, beef cow

Genetic parameters for feed intake and efficiency in dry pregnant beef cows

Genetic parameters of feed efficiency and traits relative to feed efficiency for dry pregnant beef cows were estimated from data collected from 1980 to 1988 at the Elora Beef Research Centre, Guelph, Ontario. Measurements of individual feed intake were available for 90 d immediately before calving. Estimates of parameters were obtained using derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (DFREML), with an individual-animal model with year-season, sex of fetus, parity breeding system, covariate daily backfat change, and genetic and permanent environmental effects. The data included 729 observations, 337 cows, 278 dam–maternal grand dam pairs, and 208 sires of cows. Feed efficiency for pre-calving gain of fetus was calculated as pre-calving gain relative to energy consumed for maintenance and pregnancy, with adjustment of intake for weight change by National Research Council (NRC) standards (FE) or by regression analysis (FER). Residual feed consumption was calculated as energy intake minus energy requirements, with requirements estimated by NRC standards (RFC) or by regression (RFCR). Heritabilities for Hereford alone and total data, respectively, were 0.03 and 0.16 for daily metabolizable energy intake (MEI); 0.20 and 0.44 for metabolic body weight (MBW); 0.28 and 0.22 for fetal pre-calving average daily gain (PADG); 0.11 and 0.05 for FE; 0.28 and 0.20 for FER; 0.01 and 0.04 for RFC; and 0.03 and 0.22 for RFCR. Genetic and phenotypic correlations indicated a positive association of energy intake with pre-calving fetal gain and weight of cow, although correlations with weight of cow were low. Residual feed consumption for the total data was not genetically associated with MEI or PADG, moderately associated with MBW, and highly negatively associated with FE. Key words: Genetic parameter, feed efficiency, pregnancy, beef