The use of microsatellite molecular markers for detecting FecB gene in seven sheep breeds reared in Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Booroola gene (FecB) was the first major gene for prolificacy identifIed in sheep. In this study Blood samples were collected via jugular vein from seven sheep breeds, three pure Egyptian breeds (Farafra, Rahmany and Saeedy), two foreign breeds (Finnsheep and Romanov) and two crossbreds; CB1 (1/2 Rahmany X 1/2 Romanov) and CB2 (1/2 Rahmany X 1/2 Finnsheep). Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified with two microsatellite primers (BM1329 and OarAE1O1), which are closely linked to FecB locus. Egyptian sheep were shown to have no FecB mutation in all analyzed samples. On the other hand, both of the foreign breeds and their crosses with the Egyptian breeds showed the presence of the FecB linked allele in most samples, which explain the fact that a half Finnsheep or Romanov sheep is more prolific than an Egyptian pure breed.

Summary in Arabic.

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