Growth hormone gene polymorphism in two kinds of Iraq native fowls

Abstract EN

Molecular genetic selection on individual genes is a promising method to genetically improve economically important traits in chickens.

The polymorphism in the intron ١ of chicken growth hormone (cGH) gene was investigated in the Iraq native fowls by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method.

The genomic DNA was extracted from ٩٥ samples (٤٧ from the Black feather native fowls and ٤٨ from the Nicked neck native fowls) by using modified salting out technique.

The DNA fragment of the growth hormone gene with ٧٧٠ bp was amplified by PCR using specific primers.

Then the PCR products were digested with MspI restriction enzyme and analyzed on ١.٥% agarose gel.

The allelic frequency of intron ١ locus for A and B alleles in Iraq native fowls (Black feather) were ٠.٤٧ and ٠.٥٣ and those in Nicked nick native fowls were ٠.٤٦ and ٠.٥٤, respectively.

The results of current study indicated that the intron ١ of cGH is polymorphic in Iraq native fowls and could be exploited as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection for growth-related traits.