Authors : H. Charati, A.K. Esmailizadeh, R. Jabbari Ori, H. Moradiyan and S. Sohrabi
Abstract: Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) are DNA segments linked to traits. In this study, a three-generation resource population was developed using two distinct Japanese quail strains, wild and white to map QTL underlying skeletal architecture. Eight pairs of white and wild birds were crossed reciprocally and 34 F1 birds were produced. The F1 birds were intercrossed to generate 422 F2 off spring. All of the animals from three generations (472 birds) were genotyped for eight microsatellite markers on chromosome 1. The phenotypic data were collected on the F2 birds. QTL analysis was conducted applying the line-cross model and the least-squares interval mapping approach. The results indicated QTL affecting skeletal architecture traits on chromosome 1. The F2 phenotypic variance explained by the detected additive QTL effects ranged from 0.0-2.23 for different traits. The identified QTL interacted significantly with sex (QTL for tibia bone weight, humerus bone length, femur bone diameter, right leg weight) and hatch (QTL for left leg length, breast bone weight, femur weight, femur bone weight, femur meet weight).
H. Charati, A.K. Esmailizadeh, R. Jabbari Ori, H. Moradiyan and S. Sohrabi, 2015. Genetic Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting Skeletal Architecture in Japanese Quail. Veterinary Research, 8: 45-52.