Quantitative genotyping by amplifying the polymorphic sequences of Pre-Melanosomal Protein (PMEL17) gene using real-time polymerase chain reaction in chickens

Abstract

1. This study was conducted to develop a quantitative genotyping system of chimaeric chickens by real-time PCR.

2. The polymorphisms in exons 7 and 11 of PMEL17 gene, which is one of the major genes affecting plumage colour, were identified from White Leghorn, Barred Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red chickens.

3. Quantitative genotyping was successfully performed by real-time PCR using polymorphic sequence-specific TaqMan Probes.

4. This methodology can support future research of germline chimaeric chickens as well as the application of germ cell transfer technique.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the staff of the Poultry Management Section of the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science for taking care of the chickens and providing fertilised eggs. This work was supported by the Special Fund from the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, the Special Coordination Fund from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the Japanese Government, and a Grant-in-Aid (No. 16380193) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.