Analysis of the eighth intron polymorphism of gene in sheep and its correlation with lumbar spine number.

For revealing molecular markers related to the traits of multiple lumbar vertebrae in sheep, we analyze the relationship between gene polymorphism and lumbar vertebrae number traits in Xinjiang Kazakh sheep. Lumbar muscle tissues were collected from 6-lumbar spine (L6) Kazak sheep and 7-lumbar spine (L7) Kazak sheep and the intron-8 of gene was amplified by PCR. The SNP locus was detected by the PCR-SSCP method. One-Way ANOVA and an Independent Chi-square Test is adopted to analyze the genotype association with lumbar spine number variation. There were two SNP loci in the intron-8 of the gene: IVS8-188 and IVS8-281. One-Way ANOVA and Independent Chi-square Test indicated a significant association between IVS8-281 and lumbar spine number. The SNP locus of gene intron 8 (IVS8-281G > A) could play a certain role in the variation of lumbar spine number in Xinjiang Kazakh sheep and demonstrates potential to accelerate the sheep breeding of selection process.