Magdalena Kawka

The use of microsatellite polymorphism in genetic mapping of the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

The aim of this study was to determine microsatellite polymorphism in ostriches and using it in creation the genetic map of the ostrich. The polymorphism analysis covered 30 microsatellite markers characteristic of ostrich, for the CAU (China Agricultural University) group. The material consisted of 150 ostriches (Struthio camelus). The 30 microsatellite loci was examined and a total of 343 alleles was identified. The number of alleles at a single locus ranged from 5 at locus CAU78 to 34 at locus CAU85. The values for the observed heterozygosity Ho ranged from 0.467 (locus CAU78) to 0.993 (locus CAU16), whereas for the expected heterozygosity He - from 0.510 (locus CAU78) to 0.953 (locus CAU85). Analyzing the individual loci, the highest PIC value, more than 0.7 was observed for: loci CAU85 (0.932), CAU64 (0.861) and CAU32, 75 (0.852), respectively. It should be noted, that the microsatellite markers used in our study were very polymorphic as evidenced by the large number of detected alleles and high rates of heterozygosity, PIC and PE as well. The analysed microsatellite markers may be used in genetic linkage mapping of ostrich, the construction of a comparative genetic map with other ratites, such as emu and rhea, and population genetics studies or phylogenetic studies of these birds.

Studies on resources of genetic diversity in conservative flocks of geese using microsatellite DNA polymorphic markers

The studies conducted aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity within and between varieties of conservative flocks of geese, using the polymorphism of 14 microsatellite sequences. The experimental material included conservative flocks of geese the following indigenous breeds and varieties kept in Poland: Kielecka (Ki), Kartuska (Ka), Lubelska (Lu), Suvalska (Su), Rypinska (Ry), Sub-Carpathian (SC), Hunched Beak (HB) and Pomeranian (Po). Among the 14 microsatellite sequences a total of 97 microsatellite alleles were identified. The number of alleles at one locus ranged from 3 to 19. In the overall pool of 97 alleles, 26 (26.8%) were specific for individual breeds and varieties of geese. The values of the expected heterozygosity (He) for individual geese ranged from 0.38 (Sub-Carpathian) to 0.51 (HB). Similarly, the mean values for the observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.45 (Po) to 0.55 (Ki and Su). The polymorphic information content reached the highest value of 0.80 at loci CKW21 (Ki) and TTUCG5 (Po and Su). The greatest genetic distance was observed between the HB and Ry (0.44) and between the HB and Po (0.39) varieties, while the smallest–between the Lu and Po as well as Lu and Ki (0.028) varieties. The phylogenetic tree, elaborated on the basis of the genetic distances, clearly confirms the specificity of the HB goose as compared to the remaining breeds and varieties.

Partial hydatidiform mole diagnosis in a cat: a case report

A case of a stillborn Norwegian Forest kitten characterised in the course of anatomopathological and genetic examination is reported. The hydatidiform mole was diagnosed by delayed development, low birth weight of the kitten and abnormal placental development. Anatomopathological diagnosis was confirmed in genetic tests based on the amplification of highly heterozygous microsatellite sequences located on the X (FCA311) and autosomal chromosomes (FCA506, FCA532 and FCA178), as well as the sex-specific Sry and amelogenin (Amel) genes. The presence of two microsatellite alleles of paternal origin and one allele of maternal origin was observed in all analysed tissues (kidney, liver, brain, heart and spleen) of the stillborn kitten. The kitten’s sex was diagnosed by the presence of the paternal Sry gene, and maternal and paternal products of Amel, as well as one maternal and one paternal X chromosome FCA311 microsatellite allele. The results thus confirmed that the haploid egg was fertilised by two sperm, yielding a triploid karyotype. In summary, the successful application of genetic markers in postnatal diagnosis of this condition in the cat confirms considerable usefulness of these techniques, especially in cases where cytogenetic diagnosis is insufficient or impossible.

Alternative Transcription of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma in the Liver Is Associated with Fatness of Chickens

The expression of four transcription variant of peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor gamma gene (PPARG) (XM_015292931.1; XM_015292932.1; XM_015292933.1 and NM_001001460.1) in the liver of broilers was measured and its correlation with abdominal fat weight and relative abdominal fat content was investigated. The study was conducted with 92 slow-growing crossbred chickens (Cobb males x indigenous Green-legged Partridge female chickens) divided into “fat” and “lean” groups, according to their abdominal fat yield. The NM_001001460.1 transcriptwas upregulated with ratio of means 4.26 (p≤0.01) in the “fat” group in relation to the “lean” group. Expression of this transcript was highly correlated with relative abdominal fat content (0.71, p≤0.01) and abdominal fat weight (0.59, p≤0.01). Two SNPs are located in putative transcription factor binding sites. Mutation -991C>A disrupts PPAR while mutation -884C>T disrupts C/EBP putative binding site. The gene expression analysis of PPARg showed that the expression of the transcripts (NM_001001460.1) was more than four times higher in fat than in lean chickens. These results point out that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma NM_001001460.1 transcript could be candidate gene for determination of abdominal fat deposition in the chickens.

Cytogenetic and genetic study of a Y-linked microsatellite polymorphism in Polish Black-and-White cattle breed

The aim of the current study was to characterize Polish Black-and-White cattle by morphological study of the Y chromosome. A total of 14 Y-linked microsatellites from UMN and INRA group were genotyped and assessed for polymorphism in a total 22 bulls. Cytogenetic studies in Polish Black-and-White bulls showed the existence of two morphological forms of Y chromosome. Among the 22 karyotypic analyzed bulls, 12 had submetacentric and 10 metacentric Y chromosome. The centromeric index of Y chromosome measured as percentage length of the p arm to total length ratio in the first case was 28 ± 3.97% and in the second 47 ± 7.28%, whereas the relative size of these chromosomes remained within the same range. Morphology and G- and C-banding patterns of both forms of Y chromosome were typical for other cattle breeds originating from Bos taurus. Out of a total of 14 microsatellite loci examined, 13 showed specific alleles for two forms of Y chromosome. In a pool of 62 alleles, 43 (69.3%) were common in the two groups of cattle, 19 (30.7%) can be considered as specific for the group; among them 8 were typical for metacentric group of Y chromosome and 11 for submetacentric.