Novel Ghrelin alleles and use of the same for genetically typing animals
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsMax F. Rothschild, Kwan-Suk Kim, Lloyd L. Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are genetic markers for animal growth, appetite and fatness, methods for identifying such markers, and methods of screening animals to determine those more likely to produce desired growth, appetite and fatness and preferably selecting those animals for future breeding purposes. The markers are based upon the presence or absence of certain polymorphisms in the Ghrelin gene.
Claims15
A method of screening animals to determine those more likely to produce desired growth, appetite and fatness comprising:
- obtaining a sample of genetic material from said animal;
- and
- assaying for the presence of a genotype in said animal which is associated with favorable growth, appetite and fatness, said genotype characterized by the following:
- a) a polymorphism in the Ghrelin gene.
A method of screening animals to determine those more likely to exhibit improved growth, appetite and fatness traits comprising:
- obtaining a biological sample of material from said animal;
- and
- assaying for the presence of a genotype in said animal which is associated with improved growth, appetite and fatness traits said genotype characterized by the following:
- a) a polymorphism in the Ghrelin gene, said polymorphism resulting in a Msp1, ApaI, AluI, RsaI, BsrI, BglII site.
A nucleotide sequence or allele which encodes upon expression an Ghrelin protein, said nucleotide sequence comprising a variant due to a polymorphic site selected from the group consisting of Msp1, ApaI, AluI, RsaI, BsrI, and BglII.
A method of genetically typing an animal comprising:
- obtaining a sample of genetic material from said animal;
- and
- assaying for the presence of a genotype in said animal, wherein said genotype is characterized by a polymorphism in the ghrelin gene.
A method for indirect selection of a polymorphism in a Ghrelin gene associated with the traits of growth, appetite, and fatness comprising:
- selecting specific alleles of an alternative DNA marker associated with said Ghrelin gene, wherein said gene is associated with the traits of growth, appetite, and fatness;
- making an indirect selection of a polymorphism;
- and
- establishing linkage between the specific allele of the alternative DNA and alleles of the DNA marker associated with the traits of growth, appetite, and fatness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.