Investigation of Polymorphisms in MC4R and GPX5 Genes in Greek Pigs

Recent studies have reported that gene polymorphisms in melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPX5) genes are associated with litter size in pig and can be used as genetic markers in gene assisted selection programs for the improvement of reproductive performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the existence of these polymorphisms in pigs raised in Greece. One hundred pigs raised in Greece were included in the study. DNA was extracted and genotyping was performed using RFLPPCR. For MC4R, genotype GG had a frequency of 0.25, GA 0.55 and AA 0.20, while the frequency of allele G was 0.52 and of A 0.48. For GPX5, genotype AA had a frequency of 0.22, AB 0.48 and BB 0.30, with frequencies of alleles A and B being 0.46 and 0.54, respectively. The molecular results indicated that all genotypes of the two genes were present in the investigated population.

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