New insights on coat colour genetics in rabbit coming from candidate gene analysis - Nuove acquisizioni della genetica molecolare sul determinismo del colore del mantello nel coniglio

We recently showed that mutations in the rabbit MC1R gene are associated with coat colours in different breeds. Here, we completed the characterization of the MC1R gene and further supported the association of the 30 bp deletion in this gene with the production of pheomelanic coat colours. Moreover, we identified 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the agouti (agouti signaling protein, ASIP) gene. These markers will be useful in association studies with coat colour in different rabbit breed