Search

This study aimed to comprehend a feature of single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) in mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) mainly of general broiler chickens in Japan. We typed two SNP sites (199 C/ T and 792 A/ G) of the D-loop region in mtDNA by allele-specific PCR ( AS-PCR) in 359 broiler (182 chunky and 177 cobb) and 506 layer (233 White Leghorn, 140 Barred Plymouth Rock and 133 Rhode Island Red) chickens. The SNP of 199 C or 792 A by AS-PCR was observed in the chunky and cobb chickens, and not in the layers. The haplotype 199 T/792 G was observed in a part of cobb and all layers. By the result of AS-PCR haplotyping and the broiler brands, the D-loop region was sequenced in 44 broiler chickens (20 chunky and 24 cobb) and compared with the layers' sequence data. Among the broiler and layer chickens, 21 SNP sites (including one insertion) and 11 sequence haplotypes were observed. Haplotype variation or correspondence was observed in and between the broiler brands. This study provides important information to establish a chicken meat traceability system by SNP haplotyping of mtDNA in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a useful poultry animal farmed for fat, meat, and eggs. Genetic structure and relationships among farmed emu populations in Japan are unknown and the number of microsatellite markers for genetic analysis of the emu is insufficient. In this study, we isolated 16 microsatellites from the emu genome and developed ten new microsatellite markers. These microsatellite markers were used to characterize three farm emu populations in Japan. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 13 and the expected (H E ) and observed heterozygosity (H O ) of these microsatellite loci was 0.187-0.802 and 0.179-0.647, respectively. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.176 to 0.786. Positive inbreeding coefficient (F IS ) values were detected in all tested populations, and they ranged from 0.027 to 0.540. These results suggest that farm populations of the emu in Japan resulted from inbreeding. The fixation index (F ST ) values ranged from 0.026 to 0.061, and phylogenetic trees and population structure analysis confirmed no definitive genetic differentiation among the three populations. Therefore, these populations are at a relatively low level of genetic differentiation at present. The microsatellite markers developed in our study can be utilized for genetic analysis and preservation of genetic resources in the emu.