DGAT1 GENE POLYMORPHISM IN MORKARAMAN SHEEP

This study aims to investigate the polymorphism of Diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 (DGAT1)

gene locus in Morkaraman sheep raised at Atatürk University Food and Livestock Application

and Research Center Farm nd to determine the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies

of sheep in terms of related genes. DGAT1/Alu1 genes polymorphism was defined by using the

PCR-RFLP method in the DNAs isolated from hair samples taken from 124 Morkaraman sheep

used in this study. PCR- RFLP products were run in an electrophoresis medium and the results

were visualized as bands in an ultraviolet (UV) device. In the study, distributions of the

genotype and allele gene frequency of the population were calculated and it was tested whether the populations comply with the Hardy-Weinberg (HW) genetic equilibrium test.

According to the Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium test, it was observed that the distribution

of genotype frequencies was in balance (P>0,05) in the population studied. The CC, CT, and

TT genotype frequencies of the DGAT1 gene in the population were found to be 50%, 38,7%

and 11.3% for the Morkaraman sheep breed, respectively. When the population was examined

in terms of allele frequencies, it was defined that the C allele and the T allele were 0.69 and

0.31 for the Morkaraman sheep, respectively. DGAT1 genotypes were determined using the

PCR-RFLP method from hair samples taken from Morkaraman sheep. It was observed that the

distribution of the DGAT1 gene locus in the examined sheep breed population was in balance

according to the HW genetic equilibrium test. It has been defined the genotype and allele

frequencies determined in terms of DGAT1 gene polymorphism may be found to be sufficient

to reveal the genotype diversity of this breed.