Novel AluI-polymorphism in the fourth intron of chicken growth hormone gene

A novel AluI-polymorphism in the fourth intron of chicken growth hormone gene was shown. The cytosine to thymine transition in the restriction site for AluI was detected. Primers flanking the 460 bp fragment of the fourth intron containing a polymorphic restriction site for AluI were designed. The nucleotide sequence fragments amplified polymorphic variants were determined. Using designed primers, the genetic structure of populations of White Plymouth Rock, Poltava Clay, Rhode Island Red, and Borkovskaya Barvistaya chicken breeds were analyzed. It was found that growth hormone gene (by AluI-polymorphism in the fourth intron) was polymorphic in all experimental populations. Frequencies of alleles C and T in chicken population of White Plymouth Rock breed were 0.14 and 0.86, Rhode Island Red were 0.3 and 0.7, Poltava Clay were 0.04 and 0.96, and Borkovskaya Barvistaya were 0.08 and 0.92, respectively. The tendency to increase egg production and egg weight of chicken with C/C genotype and meat quality (live weight, carcass weight, weight of pectoral muscles) of chickens with genotype T/T of Rhode Island Red chicken breed was shown.