Investigate the possibility of polymorphism in FecXI and FecXH gene associated with twining in Shall sheep

Litter size is one of the most important economical traits in sheep breeding and recent discoverieshave shown that it is influenced by a number of major genes. The high prolificacy in Inverdaland Hanna sheep is the result of a mutation in the BMP15 oocyte-derived growth factor gene.This study was carried out for detection of possible polymorphisms in FecXI and FecXH genes. PCR-RFLP method was used to develop FecXI and FecXH mutant allel. This study was performed using bloodsamples, collected from 239 ewes of Shall sheep. Genomic DNA was extracted using modified salting-out method. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out for amplification of a fragment with 204 and 235 bp at the mentioned loci respectively. For genotyping the individuals at Inverdal and Hanna loci, the resulted amplified fragments were digested using XbaI and SpeI restriction enzymes respectively. XbaI and SpeI restriction enzymes were used to detect possible mutation through which Shall breed sheep was tested for the presence of the FecXI and FecXH mutation of BMP15. There were no evidence of FecXI and FecXH in shall breed sheep samples all individuals in the sample showed wild genotype (++). Considering the phonotypic records, the obtained result indicates that in this breed, the relationship of genetic factor responsible for twining or multiple lambing rates with reported mutated alleles at Inverdal and Hanna major gene is very unlikely.