Linkage of the pig main histocompatibility complex and the J blood group system

Relationships between the bovine major histocompatibility system and commonly recognized erythrocyte and serum polymorphisms

Linkage at a recombination frequency of 0.10 or less between the bovine major histocompatibility system and the B, C and L red blood cell groups and the albumin, haemoglobin and transferrin loci was excluded by Morton's lod score method. The white blood cell antigen CA19, which is independent of the bovine major histocompatibility system, is the J blood group.

Serologically defined specificities of the pig main histocompatibility complex (SL-A)

Six antigens detectable by the complement-dependent lymphocytotoxic technique were determined in pigs by six groups of alloimmune sera. It was confirmed that these specificities are controlled by the main histocompatibility region (SL-A). Serological and genetic studies showed that the given specificities (provisionally designated L1 to L6) form at least 6 haplotypes. In addition, family studies confirmed the linkaged between SL-A region and C blood group locus. Maximum lod score values are in recombination fraction omicron = 0.2.

Swine lymphocyte alloantigens (SLA) class I serology and genetics in Belgian Landrace and Pietrain breeds

Eighty anti-SLA class I reagents were prepared resulting from skin graft and subcutaneous immunizations in 320 fattening pigs of the Belgian Landrace and Pietrain breeds. By means of these alloantisera seven internationally and five locally established specificities were recognized. Three of the locally assigned specificities were new: BM 36, BM 37 and BM 38. They were serologically and genetically defined. The typing battery was completed with French and Danish reagents, and correlation coefficients were calculated for the main alloantisera recognizing SLA class I alloantigens observed in the Belgian breeds. The SLA haplotype frequencies were estimated in 372 Belgian Landrace and 369 Pietrain pigs. The SLA haplotype distribution differs significantly between both breeds and the genetic distance (0.54) at the SLA system is quite high.

Mapping genes in domesticated animals

Gene maps are constructed by the synthesis of data obtained by different methods which include family analyses, somatic cell hybridization, direct mapping of DNA segments by Southern blot analysis, and in situ hybridization to fixed metaphase chromosomes. Gene mapping has already contributed significantly to a better understanding of the mammalian genome, in particular the human genome, but the gene maps of economically important domestic species are not well-characterized. The application of somatic cell genetics and recombinant DNA methodologies now allows rapid progress to be made in the construction of detailed gene maps for domestic animals. Such gene maps will serve as tools for selection in applied animal breeding and for the analysis of polygenic traits.