Genotype frequency of FecXB (Belclare) mutation of BMP15 gene in Chios (Sakiz) sheep

Abstract

Ovulation rate and litter size, varies between breeds or individulas who belong to the same breed, are evaluated as fertility traits. Fertility traits are important for economic values in animal breeding. However these traits exhibit only in females and they are determined in the later stages of lifes. Hence the genetic perspective is more effective way to confirm the fertility capacities early period of life time. Fecundity genes such as BMP15 regulate the fertility traits by increasing the ovulation rate due to the occuring mutations. Despite some prolific breed were investigated for FecX B mutation; the researches carried out to determine that mutation in Chios sheep breed are limited. The objective of the current study was to estimate the the genotype frequencies of FecX B mutation of BMP15 gene in prolific Chios sheep. We investigated the FecX B mutation by PCR-RFLP method in Chios sheep (n=77). According to result, the investigated Chios breed was found monomorphic for FecX B mutation. All individuals were digested by DdeI restriction enzyme and showed wild-type genotype and did not carry FecX B mutation nin present study. In conclusion it’s thought that the high prolificacy in Chios sheep may be based on another region of BMP15 gene or different major gene. Thus the effect of other major genes or regions/QTL’s should be investigated in future studies with a large number of animals.