The association of polymorphisms in the ovine and genes with body weight in Hu sheep.

The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of and polymorphisms on the body weight of Hu sheep. DNA sequencing and KASPar technologies were used to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the and genes of Hu sheep ( = 207). Two synonymous mutations, g.300 G > A and g.645 C > T, were detected in and , respectively. The body weights of sheep were recorded at 80, 100, 120, 140, 160 and 180-days, and associations between these polymorphisms and body weight changes were analyzed. Association analysis demonstrated that the polymorphisms in and significantly associated with body weight ( < 0.05). At the g.300 G > A locus, individuals with the GG genotype had significantly higher body weight than those with the AA genotype, and at the g.645 C > T locus, individuals with the TT genotype had significantly higher body weight than those with the TC genotype. Individuals with both polymorphisms exhibited significantly different growth ( < 0.05). These data suggest that polymorphisms in the and genes can be used as candidate molecular markers for the breeding of desirable growth traits in Hu sheep.