Evidence of major gene(s) affecting milk traits in the Chios sheep breed

The feasibility of integration of the bovine P77 construct into zygotes and two cell embryos of Chios sheep breed was examined. The P77 gene construct comprised bovine as l casein promoter regulatory sequence fused to the fragment between exons 2 and 9 of the bovine chymosin gene. One of the two pronuclei of the zygote or a nucleus of a blastomere of a two cell embryo was microinjected with 1 pi of DNA solution containing approximately 1000 copies of the gene construct. In total 193 zygotes and 87 two cell embryos collected from 49 donor ewes were used. After 1 - 5 h culture microinjected zygotes (n=175) and two cell embryos (n=76) were transferred by a laparoscopic technique to the oviducts of 68 recipients. 22 recipients (32.4%) gave birth to 29 lambs which correspond to 11.6% of the total number of zygotes - embryos transferred. PCR analysis performed in skin samples of these lambs revealed that in one ewe lamb the P77 construct has been integrated in its genome. The growth and puberty of this lamb was physiological and is currently pregnant. This is the first transgenic farm animal born in Greece.

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Characteristics and experiences of Chios breed

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.72315 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 576-584

Author(s):

N. P. Zervas ◽

J. Hatjiminaoglou ◽

A. Georgoudis

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Ovulation Rate ◽

Sheep Breed ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Total Milk ◽

Chios Sheep ◽

Greek Island

Discussed are the reproductive and productive characteristics of the dairy and prolific Chios sheep breed, originating from the homonymous Greek island. Besides the island, the breed is also raised in the Greek mainland, the westcoast of Turkey and in Cyprus. It is early maturing, with long reproductive reason and lambing period, extending from October to March. Inspite its high ovulation rate, repeatability estimates do not suggest the presence of fecundity genes. The average prolificacy ratio ranges between 1.80 and 2.0, with triplets and quadruplets not uncommon. The average exploitable milk yield varies between 180 and 200 kg, with occasionally reported productions of up to 400 and 500 kg. Repeatabilities of prolificacy and milk production based on island data were found 0.15 and 0.40, respectively. Heritability of milk yield from the island was 0.31 and 0.40, respectively, for second and third lactations. Recent estimates from Cyprus report values of 0.30 and 0.39 for 90-day milk and total milk yield, respectively. Other parameters and information on udder (mechanical milking), growth, and carcass characteristics as well as on crossbreeding trials are also reported. Some considerations are given with regard to potential and valorization of this highly productive sheep breed.

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Structural and functional characterisation of the αS1-casein (CSN1S1) gene and association studies with milk traits in Assaf sheep breed

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2013.06.014 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 157 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J.H. Calvo ◽

E. Dervishi ◽

P. Sarto ◽

L. González-Calvo ◽

B. Berzal-Herranz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Association Studies ◽

Sheep Breed ◽

Milk Traits ◽

Functional Characterisation

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HLA Genotype of Patients with Severe Haemophilia A due to Intron 22 Inversion with and without Inhibitors of Factor VIII

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1655945 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 77 (02) ◽

pp. 238-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

J Oldenburg ◽

J K Picard ◽

R Schwaab ◽

H H Brackmann ◽

E G D Tuddenham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Factor Viii ◽

Major Gene ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Strong Association ◽

Molecular Genetic ◽

Single Mutation ◽

Severe Haemophilia ◽

Extended Haplotype ◽

Intron 22 Inversion ◽

Hla Genotype

SummaryMolecular genetic studies have shown that development of antibodies to factor VIII (inhibitors) occurs most frequently in patients with severe haemophilia due to major gene lesions including inversions, stop codons and large deletions. Previous studies of HLA type were performed on inhibitor and non-inhibitor patients with diverse uncharacterised mutations which may have confounded detection of significant associations. We therefore selected a group of patients with a single mutation type, the prevalent intron 22 inversion, with or without inhibitors, to determine HLA genotype. Seventy-one such patients, 42 without and 29 with inhibitors (13 high, 9 low and 7 transient responders) were genotyped for MHC Class I HLA-A, -B, -C and Class II HLA-DQA, -DQB and -DRB loci. No strong correlation of any HLA-allele to inhibitor or non-inhibitor status was found. However, alleles of the haplotype HLA-A3, HLA-B7, HLA-C7, HLA-DQA0102, HLA-DQB0602, HLA-DR15 occurred more often in inhibitor patients. Since the alleles of this extended haplotype are common in the North European population only a very strong association would achieve statistical significance. Further studies of groups of patients similar to those studied here will be needed to confirm or exclude this association.

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