3 Biotech

, 7:204 | Cite as

qPCR and HRM-based diagnosis of SNPs on growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), a gene associated with sheep (Ovis aries) prolificacy

  • Raquel Anahí Escobar-Chaparro
  • Gabriel Guillén
  • Luis Uribe Espejo-Galicia
  • Víctor Manuel Meza-Villalvazo
  • Julián Mario Peña-Castro
  • José Abad-Zavaleta
Original Article
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

Prolificacy is a desirable trait for genetic improvement of sheep flocks, since it holds the potential to improve productivity. Animals carrying single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with this trait can be identified and employed to increase prolificacy in flocks. In this study, we report a diagnostic method based on quantitative PCR and high-resolution melting curves to detect different SNPs in the prolificacy-associated gene growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9). The diagnostic method was validated using artificial sequences representing known SNPs in GDF9, then applied to a real flock comprising four breeds and admixed animals (n = 306). Five different SNPs were identified in this flock, as was a low or null frequency of occurrence of SNPs positively associated with prolificacy. This indicates a need to implement a breeding strategy for recovering or reintroducing such SNPs. Our method provides a genotyping strategy for identifying individuals with SNPs of interest for prolificacy, which will help producers plan a breeding strategy for this trait. This method can be adapted and expanded for the diagnosis of other traits of interest.

Keywords

Genotyping Genomic DNA Animal breeding Fertility 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México—Secretaría de Economía (FINOVA-192172 to JAZ) and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México—Secretaría de Educación Pública (Ciencia Básica 152642 to JMPC).

Authors’ contributions

All the experiments were performed by RAEC with technical assistance of LUEG. GG provided molecular biology expertise and reviewed reports and associated thesis. VMMV provided flock management expertise. JMPC provided reagents, equipment, and software access. JAZ conceived and designed the experiments, and led the data analysis and manuscript preparation with assistance from JMPC and RAEC.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Supplementary material

13205_2017_837_MOESM1_ESM.docx (20.7 mb)
Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 21169 kb)

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Raquel Anahí Escobar-Chaparro
    • 1
    • 2
  • Gabriel Guillén
    • 3
  • Luis Uribe Espejo-Galicia
    • 2
  • Víctor Manuel Meza-Villalvazo
    • 2
  • Julián Mario Peña-Castro
    • 2
  • José Abad-Zavaleta
    • 2
  1. 1.División de Estudios de PosgradoUniversidad del PapaloapanTuxtepecMexico
  2. 2.Instituto de BiotecnologíaUniversidad del PapaloapanTuxtepecMexico
  3. 3.Instituto de BiotecnologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCuernavacaMexico

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