Research On Gene Markers Associated With The Egg Production Traits Of Shiqiza Chicken

In this study, techniques of PCR-RFLP were used to explore distribution and genetic polymorphism of molecular markers in IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth factor-1) gene and ODC (Ornithine Decarboxylase) gene of local Shiqiza Chicken. Then the effects of genotypes on egg production were analysed in order to select appropriate markers for traits of earlier maturation and egg production of Shiqiza chicken.A Shiqiza chicken population including 351 hens which is the breeding nucleus of the 0 generation of the C breed was detected for IGF-1 gene polymorphism by means of PCR-RFLP. A 623bp fragment of the 5' upstream regulative region of the IGF-1 gene was amplified and then digested by Pst I . The digested products were fractionated by 2% agar gel electrophoresis and showed three genotypes which were defined as A A, AB and BB genotypes. The frequencies of the IGF-1 genotypes(AA, AB, BB) were 28.8, 47.8, and 23.3%, respectively within the population, which was in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Using the SPSS software the association between the IGF-1 genotypes and the egg productivity was analyzed. The results showed that there was no significant difference of the age at first egg(AFE) between different IGF-1 genotypes. But the IGF-1 genotypes significantly affected the egg production within 50 wk(EN50w). The B allele was associated with a higher EN50w, indicating a positive association including dominant and additive effects of the B allele with egg production in the Shiqiza chicken population.A random population with 40 samples were detected for the polymorphism in the ODC gene. Two sites in the ODC gene were detected, of which one is...