Karyotyping Booroola gene carriers
E.A. Lord, D.F. Hill
MAF Technology Molecular Biology Unit, Department of
Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1991, 51: 91-94
Karyotype analysis, used for screening chromosomal anomalies in
humans and livestock, is being evaluated as a means of identifying sheep
carrying the Booroola fecundity gene. This has involved comparing the
chromosomes of metaphase spreads from animals heterozygous for the
Booroola gene (FecB+) to screen for numerical or physical abnormalities
between the chromosome pairs using Giemsa (GTG) banding. A number of
anomalies have been observed from 18 of 3 FecB+ rams and 4
FecB+ ewes. The anomalies were spread throughout most chromosomes, but
none were present in all karyotypes. No alteration in chromosome number
was observed. These preliminary results suggest that the Booroola
mutation is not the result of a major chromosomal alteration.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Sheep; Booroola; karyotype analysis; chromosomes; GTG-banding
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
