polymorphism of myostatin gene and its association with growth traits in Raeini cashmere goats

This wok was conducted to identify polymorphisms in the region of the exon 1 in 5'UTR of myostatin gene and their relationships with the growth traitsin Raeini cashmere goats. Myostatin gene has been identified as a factor causing a phenotype known as double-muscling in which a series of mutations render the gen inactivity; therefore, able to increase muscle growth. Blood samples were randomly taken from 150 Raeini cashmere goats. Total genomic DNA was extracted and a 701 bp fragment was amplified from the exon 1 of myostatin gene using PCR-RFLP method. The analysis of band patterns indicated three genotypes including AA, AB and BB with frequencies of 0.56, 0.33 and 0.11, respectively. The A and Balleles had a frequency of 0.72 and 0.28, respectively. The analysis of additive and dominance gene actions revealed that the effect of the myostatin gene on growth traits and body size of Raeini cashmere goats is via the dominance mechanism. The results showed that all growth traits except weaning weight were significantly associated with the identified polymorphisms, thus this gene can be used as a molecular marker in Raeini cashmere goats breeding.