Follistatin gene as a genetic marker for first parity litter size in pigs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Two different genetic mutations within the porcine follistatin gene, which have been found to be associated with litter size in first parity gilts.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are genetic markers for litter size in first parity gilts, methods for identifying such markers, and methods of screening pigs to determine those more or less likely to have large litters in their first parity and more or less likely to produce litters with offspring who also posses that same genetic ability to have larger first parity litters and preferably selecting those pigs for future breeding purposes. The markers are based upon the presence or absence of certain polymorphisms in the pig follistatin gene.
17 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. Two different genetic mutations within the porcine follistatin gene, which have been found to be associated with litter size in first parity gilts.
- 2. A method comprised of obtaining a sample of genetic material from a pig and analyzing the genomic material to determine which follistatin (FS) allele(s) is/are present in said sample to screen pigs in order to determine those more likely to produce larger first parity litters and produce offspring also possessing that same ability.
-
20. The method for identifying a polymorphism for pig first parity litter size comprising the steps of:
- (i) determining the litter size of each first parity gilt, (ii) determining the polymorphism in the follistatin gene of each pig wherein the polymorphism is identifiable by amplification by a set of primers selected from the group consisting of the set of a forward primer SEQ ID NO;
1 and reverse primer SEQ ID NO;
2 or the set of a forward primer SEQ ID NO;
3 and reverse primer SEQ ID NO;
4, and (iii) associating the litter size of each pig with said polymorphism thereby identifying a polymorphism for first parity litter size on pigs. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
- (i) determining the litter size of each first parity gilt, (ii) determining the polymorphism in the follistatin gene of each pig wherein the polymorphism is identifiable by amplification by a set of primers selected from the group consisting of the set of a forward primer SEQ ID NO;
-
24. The method for determining the presence of a polymorphic site in the follistatin gene which is associated with an increase in first parity litter size in pigs comprising:
- (i) obtaining genetic samples from male and female pigs of the same breed, or breed cross, or derived from similar genetic lineages grown under normal conditions, (ii) determining reproductive traits of each pig from which a genetic sample was obtained, (iii) analyzing the genetic samples for polymorphisms in a gene associated with increased first parity litter size wherein the gene is the follistatin gene wherein the polymorphisms are identifiable by amplification by a set of primers selected from the group consisting of the set of a forward primer SEQ ID NO;
1 and reverse primer SEQ ID NO;
2 or the set of a forward primer SEQ ID NO;
3 and reverse primer SEQ ID NO;
4 or a comparable set of primers, (iv) performing an appropriate restriction digest or similar analysis to determine which FS alleles are present, and (v) correlating the polymorphism(s) to larger first parity litter size by comparing the presence of polymorphisms to litter records.
- (i) obtaining genetic samples from male and female pigs of the same breed, or breed cross, or derived from similar genetic lineages grown under normal conditions, (ii) determining reproductive traits of each pig from which a genetic sample was obtained, (iii) analyzing the genetic samples for polymorphisms in a gene associated with increased first parity litter size wherein the gene is the follistatin gene wherein the polymorphisms are identifiable by amplification by a set of primers selected from the group consisting of the set of a forward primer SEQ ID NO;
Specification