Pig Improvement Company Uk, Limited

Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc

Dalgety Plc

Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation

Graham Stuart Plastow

Leif Andersson

Max F Rothschild

Olwen Irene Southwood

Alan J Mileham

Christopher K Tuggle

Richard Wales

Elisabetta Giuffra

Christy Gladney

Amy L Vincent

Daniel C Ciobanu

James Kijas

Carol D Jacobson

David A Vaske

Kenneth William Siggens

Maria Johansson Moller

John Alan Mileham

Massoud Malek

Carole Sargent

John Bastiaansen

Todd Wilken

Gary Jon Evans

Methods for determining the KIT genotype of pigs are provided. These methods are useful in determining coat colour genotype, breed determination and for screening pigs to determine those likely to produce larger litters, and/or those less likely to produce large litters. Kits for use in such methods are also provided.

Methods

The present invention provides methods for analysing animal products. In particular methods for differentiating animal products on the basis of breed origin or validating an animal product are provided.

Methods for analyzing animal products

The present invention provides a genetic testing system that ensures complete traceability of animals and food products and involves a method of uniquely identifying animals for data collection, records management and retrieval purposes involving a novel method of genetic analysis using individual DNA fingerprinting of parentage of individual animal to effectively provide for full traceability of animals from birth to consumption.

System for tracing animal products

Disclosed herein are genetic markers for animal litter size, methods for identifying such markers, and methods of screening animals to determine those more likely to produce larger litters and preferably selecting those animals for future breeding purposes. The markers are based upon the presence or absence of certain polymorphisms in the prolactin receptor gene.

Prolactin receptor gene as a genetic marker for increased litter size in animals

Disclosed herein are genetic markers for animal meat quality and reproductive efficiency, methods for identifying such markers, and methods of screening animals to determine those more likely to produce larger litters and/or better meat quality and preferably selecting those animals for future breeding purposes. The markers are based upon the presence or absence of certain polymorphisms in the PRKAG3 gene.

PRKAG3 alleles and use of the same as genetic markers for reproductive and meat quality traits

Methods for screening pigs to determine which are more likely to produce larger litters and/or are less likely to produce larger litters are provided, based on identification of OPN alleles present in a sample of pig genomic DNA. Kits for use in such methods are also provided.

DNA markers for litter size

Coat color is important to the pig breeding industry for a number of reasons. It is therefore desirable to develop populations of pigs which will breed true for coat color. However, establishing such populations would be time-consuming and costly using traditional test mating programs. It is therefore desirable to determine the coat color genotype of individual pigs. The inventors have shown that the KIT gene in pigs is involved with coat color determination. Specifically, the inventors have discovered that the difference between the I, I,, and i alleles of the coat color determining gene is duplication of at least part of the KIT gene in the I and I,alleles. Further, the inventors have discovered that the difference between the I and I,alleles is that, although both I and I,have a duplication in the KIT gene, only I and not I,exhibits a deletion in one of the duplicated regions. These discoveries have allowed the inventors to develop methods for distinguishing between the alleles I, I,, and i, thereby determining the genotype of individual pigs with respect to coat color. In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods for determining the genotype of individual pigs with respect to coat color and kits for use in carrying out such methods.

Methods for determining the coat color genotype of a pig

Disclosed herein are genetic markers for pig litter size, methods for identifying such markers, and methods of screening pigs to determine those more likely to produce larger litters and preferably selecting those pigs for future breeding purposes based on the ESR polymorphisms. The markers are based upon the presence or absence of certain polymorphisms in the pig estrogen receptor gene. Preferably, the polymorphism is a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Genetic markers for pig litter size

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Graham Stuart Plastow