Analysis of agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene polymorphisms and association with coat color in Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries)

• DOI: 10.4238/2015.february.6.22
• Publication Date: 2015-02-09T05:34:05Z
• Authors: J.L. Han; M. Yang; Y.J. Yue; T.T. Guo; J.B. Liu; C.E. Niu; B.H. Yang
• Keywords: Coat; Phenotypic trait

Tibetan sheep, an indigenous breed, have a wide variety of phenotypes and colorful coat, which make this breed interesting model for evaluating the effects coat-color gene mutations on phenotypic trait. The agouti signaling protein (ASIP) is positional candidate gene, as was inferred based previous study. In our research, ASIP copy numbers in genomic DNA were detected using novel approach, exon 2 g.100-104 mutation number variation (CNV) associated with coat color 256 sheep collected from eight populations different colors by high-resolution melting curve assay. We found that relative ranged one to sheep. All genotypes Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, there no relationship between genotype (P > 0.05). single CNV allele be almost entirely solid-black color; however, not all displayed putative genotype. From study, we speculate under great selective pressure allows selection black but does explain