Genotypic Pro le of Ettawa Grade Goat with Different Head and Neck Color Based on MC1R Gene

Abstract

The exterior characteristic is the main reason for the most farmers in Indonesia to select and keep Ettawa grade goat. The farmers prefer to keep the goats with black head color instead of brown or mixed colors due to the price of black head color is more expensive. In order to indicate the genetic molecular basis of different head and neck color of Ettawa grade goats, a comparative analysis of MC1R gene polymorphism was conducted. The Melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) gene is known as an important candidate gene for the coat color trait. Total thirty Ettawa garde goats were divided in three group: CP (brown head and neck color with white body color), RP (brown or black head and neck color with various body color), HP (black head and neck color with white body color) were used in this study. The blood samples from all groups were collected for DNA isolation. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP 676A<G) in exon 1 which located at 676 bp in MC1R gene were obtained by PCR-RFLP methods for genotyping of the goats by using earI restriction enzyme. The results showed all of the goats in CP and RP groups were heterozygote (AG Genotype) which indicated 1.00 for their genotype frequencies. In HP group only had one goat with homozygote animal (GG genotype). Interestingly, none AA genotype found in this study. The A and G allele frequencies were similar 0.5 in both CP and RP group. However, the A allele frequency (0.55) was slightly higher than G allele (0.50) in HP group. These results indicated the spread of both alleles were equal in all groups and seems less genetic variability in the goat population study. In conclusion, the SNP 676A<G of MC1R gene may be regulated genetically in Ettawa grade goat with different head color. Further study need to be conducted in detecting the association of the gene that may affect production traits.