A genetic polymorphism and its genetic effects on goat myogenin gene in intron 1

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the myogenin (MyoG) gene were tested using primer induced restriction fragment length polymorphism assay-polymerase chain reaction (PIRA-PCR) from Bore goat and its upgrading offspring to Tangshan diary goat (including F1, F2 and F3). The effects of the myogenin gene on the birth weight, 1-month body weight and the weaning weight were also analyzed. On the basis of the DNA sequence of the goat myogenin gene (FJ607135), primers were designed to amplify myogenin gene. The result showed that one polymorphism (transition of g.558C>T) was found in intron 1 of goat myogenin gene, in which two alleles (A and B) and three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were examined. The distributions of three genotypes were basically identical in four goat populations, and allele A was the dominant gene. The effect of the myogenin genotypes on the birth weight, 1-month body weight and the weaning weight were all not significant (P > 0.05) due to the small number of BB gaots; however, the values of AA genotype goats and AB genotype goats were obviously higher than those of BB genotype goats for three growth traits, in the order of AA > AB > BB. These results suggest that the myogenin genotype has some effects on partial growth traits of goat, and selecting the individuals with A allele could be favorable to the birth weight, 1-month body weight and the weaning weight.Key words: goats, myogenin gene, primer induced restriction fragment length polymorphism assay-polymerase chain reaction (PIRA-PCR), genetic polymorphisms, genetic effects