Genetic polymorphisms of fecundity genes in Watish Sudanese desert sheep

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The Watish sheep is a strain of desert sheep of smaller size compared to other desert sheep ecotypes, and there is anecdotal evidence that it is endowed with high litter size. The present study was designed for screening for polymorphisms in the known fecundity genes (bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B A

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study involved 156 Watish ewes of 2-6 years of age, along with data on litter size in the first, second, and third parity from Sinnar state and contiguous Blue Nile State. Genomic DNA was isolated and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Allele and genotype frequencies were calculated by direct counting. Chi-square test for goodness of fit was performed for agreement with Hardy-Weinberg expectations and association testing.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that all individuals were non-carriers for the target mutations of FecB, BMP15 (FecXB, FecXH , and FecXI ), and GDF9-G8. With regard to the GDF9-G1 gene, the genotypic frequencies were 0.07% (G+) and 0.93% (++), in FecXG gene they were 0.993% (++) and 0.006% (B+), in PRL gene 0.516(++), 0.347(B+), and 0.137(BB). The Chi-square test showed a non-significant association between ewe's type of birth and the detected mutations genotypes.

CONCLUSION

These results preliminarily indicated that GDF9-G1, BMP15 (FecXG ), and PRL genes might have had some contribution for improving litter size in Watish Sudanese sheep. However, further studies using larger samples are needed to detect the effects of those mutations on Watish sheep litter size.

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Key Words

• Watish
• fecundity
• genes
• litter size
• sheep

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Affiliation(s)

Sara E. Ibrahim Mohamed Animal Production Research Centre, Animal Resources Research Corporation, Ministry of Animal Resources, Khartoum, Sudan
Romaz M. Ahmed Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Khaleel I. Z. Jawasreh Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
M. A. M. Salih Institute of Endemic Disease, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Central Laboratory, Ministry of Higher education and Scientific Research, Khartoum, Sudan
Dalia Mursi Abdelhalim Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Central Laboratory, Ministry of Higher education and Scientific Research, Khartoum, Sudan
A. W. Abdelgadir Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
Md. T. Obeidat Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
L. M. A. Musa Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Sudan
Mohammed-Khair A. Ahmed Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Sudan

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