Genetic Polymorphism in Growth hormone receptor Gene (GHR) and its Relationship with Growth Trait in Pure and Hybrid Rabbit Breeds

Single Nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) techniques were used to study the associate polymorphism in exon 1 of growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene and marketing body weights in three rabbit breeds; New Zealand White rabbit breed (pure breed), V-line (Hybrid breeds from New Zealand and California rabbit), and Alexandria breed (Hybrid from V-Line and black Egyptian Baladi rabbit). DNA from blood samples of each kit of the three rabbit breeds were extracted to amplify 263-bp of the gene encoding GHR1. The purified PCR products were sequenced in those had the highest and lowest body weight in each breed. Sixteen new SNPs were detected in GHR1 gene in New Zealand rabbits. In V-line rabbits, three SNPs were detected. Also two SNPs were found in Alex. breed. All these SNPs were related to high body weight as they were reported in higher body weights in the three breeds, and were non synonymous, which led to amino acids substitution. Restriction analysis of PCR product using MSP1 do not produce restriction fragments. Statistically, the results indicated that there were significant correlation between growth performance and GHR1 gene polymorphisms. The results were effective in selection for rabbits that have high growth performance (marker assisted selection). Also, the analysis of this study confirmed that GHR1 gene could be a candidate gene for application in marker assisted selection (MAS) in rabbits.