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Genetic Variability of PRNP in Chinese Indigenous Goats

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Abstract

Polymorphism of the prion protein gene (PRNP) is usually associated with scrapie susceptibility or resistance. To determine the variability of PRNP in Chinese indigenous goat breeds, we isolated genomic DNA from goat blood and amplified and sequenced the coding region of the gene. We identified 10 polymorphic sites that gave rise to 28 haplotypes. Clear frequency differences were found between northern and southern breeds and confirmed by genetic distance analysis, except for the Tangshan dairy goat. Phylogeographic analysis supported the idea that northern and southern breeds might be considered separate clusters, except for the Tangshan dairy goat. The finding of significant differences in allele distribution in northern and southern goats, especially if involved in modulating resistance/susceptibility, needs to be carefully considered for the feasibility of selection plans for resistance to scrapie.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Key Scientific and Technological Project (2006BAD0410-06) and Hebei Provincial Education Department Project (Z2011152) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31201775).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Agricultural University of Hebei, 289 Lingyusi Street, Baoding, 071001, China

    Rongyan Zhou, Xianglong Li, Jianzhong Xi, Lanhui Li, Zhenhong Zhang & Zhujun Zhao

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  1. Rongyan Zhou
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  2. Xianglong Li
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  3. Jianzhong Xi
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  4. Lanhui Li
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  5. Zhenhong Zhang
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Correspondence to Xianglong Li.

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Zhou, R., Li, X., Xi, J. et al. Genetic Variability of PRNP in Chinese Indigenous Goats. Biochem Genet 51, 211–222 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-012-9556-7

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