Video and industry data were used to assess the inter-relationships of aggression, delivery, coat color, year of birth, number of outs, buckoff percent and score in rodeo bulls. An evaluation of laterality based on observations of how the individual animals were loaded into chutes at 11 bull riding events showed 63% left-handed delivery and 37% right-handed delivery across all observations (n = 525). There was a similar distribution for aggressiveness (based on whether or not the bull charged after the rider dismounted) with 64% of bulls being non-aggressive and 36% of bulls being aggressive. Significant linear relationships existed between score and number of outs and score and buckoff percentage indicating that experience impacted performance. The correlation between number of outs and buckoff percentage was low to moderate (0.06 to 0.30), depending upon the subset of data evaluated. The r-square value for the analysis of score among all bulls was 0.14; however, the r-square value in the subset of bulls with known sires with more than one son was 0.68 when sire was included in the model. Similar increases in r-square values were observed for 2006 average score, career average score, buckoff percentage, and career buckoff percentage, indicating important genetic influences on these traits and/or their component traits. Investigations into the relationship between performance and aggression may help bucking stock producers improve the selection criteria they use. The current trend within the industry is for several breeders to breed ‘hot’ or flighty, nervous cattle to achieve higher performing offspring. Given that there was no association between aggression and score based on chi-square test, aggression may be removed from the criteria for using certain animals for breeding purposes. Based on results from this work, if bucking stock breeders want to make genetic changes in these traits, documentation of pedigree information is vital.

Cortisol is a stress hormone which is released from the adrenals in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and plays a major role in animal stress response. Cortisol is used as a stress marker and can be sampled using different methods. A good non-invasive method and a good measure of chronic stress is to measure cortisol through hair. Cortisol is stored in hair for months and therefore reflects chronic stress. The aim of this study was to investigate if cortisol concentration differs depending on coat color. Hair samples from 20 black and white Border collie dogs was analysed and used in this study. Cortisol was extracted with methanol and analysed with ELISA. The results showed no significant difference between black and white coat color within the population while there were individual differences. The results also showed that the sexes do not affect the cortisol concentration. In summary, coat color (black and white) has an effect on cortisol concentration which means that the factor color does need to be taken into account when measuring cortisol through hair.

Although dark coat color in dogs has been theorized as a risk factor for thermal stress, there is little evidence in the scientific literature to support that position. We utilized 16 non-conditioned Labradors (8 black and 8 yellow) in a three-phase test to examine effects of coat color on thermal status of the dog. Rectal, gastrointestinal (GI), surface temperature, and respiration rates measured in breaths per minute (bpm), were collected prior to (Baseline – phase 1) and immediately after a controlled 30-minute walk in an open air environment on a sunny day (Sunlight – phase 2). Follow up measurements were taken 15 minutes after walking (Cool down – phase 3) to determine post-exposure return to baseline. No effect of coat color was measured for rectal, gastrointestinal, surface temperature, or respiration (P > 0.05) in dogs following their 30-minute walk. Temperatures increased similarly across both coat colors (rectal 1.88 °C and 1.83 °C; GI 1.89 °C and 1.94 °C) for black and yellow dogs respectively during the sunlight phase (P > 0.05). All temperatures and respiration rates decreased similarly across coat colors for rectal (0.9°C and 1.0 °C) GI (1.5 °C and 1.3°C) for black and yellow dogs respectively (P>0.05). Similarly, sex did not impact thermal status across rectal, gastrointestinal, surface temperature or respiration rates measured (P > 0.05). These data contradict the commonly held theory that dogs with darker coat color may experience a greater thermal change when compared to dogs with a lighter coat color exposed to direct sunlight.

Common bean is a nutritionally and economically important food crop and a major source of dietary protein in many developing countries throughout the world. Seed coat colour and size in this crop are the main factors determining its marketability in different parts of the world. Flavonoid compounds that are responsible for seed coat colour in beans have been shown to have anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic activities. They also may enhance the resistance of beans to pest and disease. A better understanding of the relationships between seed coat colour and flavonoid metabolism in the seed coat may help breeders to select for more nutritionally-beneficial bean varieties. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that the genes determining colour in beans are structural and regulatory genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway. The map positions of phenylpropanoid genes were determined in two recombinant inbred populations. Segregation patterns of 18 phenylpropanoid pathway genes in the BAT93 × Jalo EEP 558 RIL population and five phenylpropanoid pathway genes in OAC Rex × SVM Taylor were used to place them on the linkage maps for these populations. Five out of 18 genes were mapped within 2-17 cM of colour gene loci in the BAT93 × Jalo EEP 558 RIL population. The sequences of central genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway were determined by sequencing 6 BAC clones selected with probes for two PAL genes, two CHS genes, DFR, and Myb. The functional annotations of the BAC clones were determined and the similarities between bean phenylpropanoid genes and their corresponding orthologs in other plant species were investigated. A recently developed approach of whole genome sequence comparison was utilized to compare the microsynteny of the sequenced BAC clones with regions of the soybean genome. The physical locations of BAC clones were verified on the bean genome and their counterpart locations on the soybean genome were confirmed. The results agreed with previous studies that indicated that bean genome segments have two homologous segments in soybean and confirmed the high degree of microsynteny that is shared between bean and soybean.

Three interrelated genes postulated to affect economically important traits related to growth and/or carcass quality of beef cattle were chosen to characterize and perform association analyses for this study. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and agouti related protein (AGRP) play an integral role in the appetite pathway and in fat deposition.<p> We genotyped 328 crossbred steers of various coat colours that were purchased at weaning and fed until slaughter for the previously published alleles ED, E+ and e. The E+ allele was present at five percent in this population and therefore was not included in further analysis. Black cattle of ED/ED or ED/e genotype had increased backfat (P<0.05) and required significantly fewer days (15-25) (P<0.01) on feed to reach a target fat level for slaughter compared to the red cattle. Red cattle of e/e genotype were found to have significantly larger longissimus dorsi (l. dorsi) area, shipping weight and hot carcass weight. Subsequent analysis revealed that the differences were comparable whether black versus red coat colour or MC1R genotype was used as the criteria for the group of cattle.<p> MC4R sequence was obtained from 20 random crossbred steers. In addition to several previously published polymorphisms, a novel Ser330Asn polymorphism was detected. A population of 382 crossbred Canadian steers and 985 crossbred American steers was genotyped for this Ser330Asn polymorphism. A minor allele frequency of 0.01 was observed in the Canadian and 0.02 in the American steer populations. No homozygous g.989AA cattle were detected. In the Canadian population, heterozygous steers had increased grade fat (P=0.036) and decreased lean meat yield (P=0.032). Similarly in the American population, steers of the g.989GA genotype had increased backfat (P=0.031) and less desirable yield grades (P=0.022,) but also lower ribeye area measurements (P=0.031). These results suggest that genotyping for the Ser330Asn polymorphism may lead to increased quality of carcasses either through lean meat production or backfat measurements, depending on the goal of the beef operation.<p> Sequence data obtained from 38 Bos taurus beef cattle, 4 Holsteins and 4 Bos indicus cattle revealed six polymorphisms in the AGRP gene. No polymorphisms that altered amino acids were detected in Bos taurus cattle. Genotyping of 382 crossbred beef steers was performed for two polymorphisms, an intronic deletion (g.439_440delTC) and a base pair substitution in exon 4 that did not alter an amino acid (g.715G>A). An ANOVA analysis, using PROC Mixed, was performed for both polymorphisms on several growth and carcass traits. No significant differences were observed.<p> Polymorphisms in MC1R and MC4R could be used as genetic tests which may be beneficial for beef producers in North America. The significant differences observed in this study in relation to cattle growth and fat deposition would represent savings for producers when used for sorting feedlot cattle or in selection of breeding cattle.

Molecular markers for seed quality traits including erucic acid content genes, seed coat color genes in Brassica napus and seed coat color genes in B. rapa were developed. A single base change in the Bn-FAE1.1 gene in the A genome and a two-base deletion in the Bn-FAE1.2 gene in the C genome produce the nearly zero content of erucic acid observed in canola. The single base change was detected as single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) marker with an ABI SNaPshot kit. A multiplexing primer set was designed by adding a polyT to the 5´ primer end to increase SNP detection throughput through sample pooling. The two-base deletion in the C genome gene was detected as a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker in an ABI 3100 Genetic analyzer. To increase the throughput, one genome specific primer was labeled with four fluorescence dyes and combined with 20 different primers to produce PCR products with different fragment sizes. These multiplexed high throughput molecular markers have been successfully implemented in our canola/rapeseed breeding programs. Trigenic inheritance was observed for seed coat color in B. napus. Three Sequenced Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) markers very closely linked to the three different seed coat color genes were developed. Chromosome-walking technology was used to convert the SRAP marker into a SCAR marker and a SNP marker. Subsequently, the first seed coat color gene (Bn1) marker was converted into a SCAR marker, and the second seed coat color gene (Bn2) marker was converted into a SNP marker. Digenic inheritance was observed for seed coat color genes in B. rapa. A SRAP marker was identified as being tightly linked to the major seed coat color gene (Br1). The SRAP marker was sequenced and extended sequences were obtained using chromosome-walking technology. The flanking sequences of the SRAP marker contained 24 SNPs and a 12-bp deletion position that allowed the marker to be converted into a co-dominant SNP marker and a co-dominant SCAR marker, respectively. The SCAR marker was detected in the ABI 3100 genetic analyzer with four fluorescently labeled M13 primers integrated with different SCAR primers, which permitted pooling of PCR samples for high throughput detection. / October 2007

Three interrelated genes postulated to affect economically important traits related to growth and/or carcass quality of beef cattle were chosen to characterize and perform association analyses for this study. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and agouti related protein (AGRP) play an integral role in the appetite pathway and in fat deposition.<p> We genotyped 328 crossbred steers of various coat colours that were purchased at weaning and fed until slaughter for the previously published alleles ED, E+ and e. The E+ allele was present at five percent in this population and therefore was not included in further analysis. Black cattle of ED/ED or ED/e genotype had increased backfat (P<0.05) and required significantly fewer days (15-25) (P<0.01) on feed to reach a target fat level for slaughter compared to the red cattle. Red cattle of e/e genotype were found to have significantly larger longissimus dorsi (l. dorsi) area, shipping weight and hot carcass weight. Subsequent analysis revealed that the differences were comparable whether black versus red coat colour or MC1R genotype was used as the criteria for the group of cattle.<p> MC4R sequence was obtained from 20 random crossbred steers. In addition to several previously published polymorphisms, a novel Ser330Asn polymorphism was detected. A population of 382 crossbred Canadian steers and 985 crossbred American steers was genotyped for this Ser330Asn polymorphism. A minor allele frequency of 0.01 was observed in the Canadian and 0.02 in the American steer populations. No homozygous g.989AA cattle were detected. In the Canadian population, heterozygous steers had increased grade fat (P=0.036) and decreased lean meat yield (P=0.032). Similarly in the American population, steers of the g.989GA genotype had increased backfat (P=0.031) and less desirable yield grades (P=0.022,) but also lower ribeye area measurements (P=0.031). These results suggest that genotyping for the Ser330Asn polymorphism may lead to increased quality of carcasses either through lean meat production or backfat measurements, depending on the goal of the beef operation.<p> Sequence data obtained from 38 Bos taurus beef cattle, 4 Holsteins and 4 Bos indicus cattle revealed six polymorphisms in the AGRP gene. No polymorphisms that altered amino acids were detected in Bos taurus cattle. Genotyping of 382 crossbred beef steers was performed for two polymorphisms, an intronic deletion (g.439_440delTC) and a base pair substitution in exon 4 that did not alter an amino acid (g.715G>A). An ANOVA analysis, using PROC Mixed, was performed for both polymorphisms on several growth and carcass traits. No significant differences were observed.<p> Polymorphisms in MC1R and MC4R could be used as genetic tests which may be beneficial for beef producers in North America. The significant differences observed in this study in relation to cattle growth and fat deposition would represent savings for producers when used for sorting feedlot cattle or in selection of breeding cattle.

Object and tasks of work: 1. Analyse and summarize literature about horse coat color and it genetic background. 2. Perform phenotypical analysis of Lithuanian Heavy Darught horse coat color polymorphism. 3. Introduce horse MC1R gene research methodology at K. Janušauskas Laboratory of Animal Genetics, LVA. 4. Investigate MC1R gene polymorphism and distribution of different alleles at Lithuanian heavy draught by PCR-RFLP method. 5. Determine correlation between restriction fragment lenght polymorphism (RFLP) in MC1R gene and horse bay coat color polymorhism. Research methodology: 1. DNA extraction from hair roots. 2. PCR to amplify MC1R gene. 3. RFLP method-MC1R – enzyme Tag I. 3. Electrophoresis in agarose gel. 4. Staining with Etidium bromide. 5. Genotyping. 6. Stasitical analysis of data. Results and conclutions: The following DNA restriction fragments were obtained for the MC1R – Tag I polymorphism: PCR product - 460 bp; genotypes E/E; ea/ea – 460 bp; genotypes e/e – 275 bp; 185 bp; genotypes E/e; e/ea – 460 bp; 275 bp; 185 bp. After phenotypical investigation of coat color from 32 Lithuanian Heavy draught horses following variation have been found: light bay, bay, dark bay, roan and chesnut. Light bay horses with different intensivity of coat color comprised 84,4 %. From total investigated animals 34.4 % had e/e genotype, E/e – 12.5 %, e/ea - 50 % and E/E genotype – 3.1 %. Two different genotypes e/e (40.7 %) and e/ea (59.3) were found among bay color horses... [to full text]

Molecular markers for seed quality traits including erucic acid content genes, seed coat color genes in Brassica napus and seed coat color genes in B. rapa were developed. A single base change in the Bn-FAE1.1 gene in the A genome and a two-base deletion in the Bn-FAE1.2 gene in the C genome produce the nearly zero content of erucic acid observed in canola. The single base change was detected as single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) marker with an ABI SNaPshot kit. A multiplexing primer set was designed by adding a polyT to the 5´ primer end to increase SNP detection throughput through sample pooling. The two-base deletion in the C genome gene was detected as a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker in an ABI 3100 Genetic analyzer. To increase the throughput, one genome specific primer was labeled with four fluorescence dyes and combined with 20 different primers to produce PCR products with different fragment sizes. These multiplexed high throughput molecular markers have been successfully implemented in our canola/rapeseed breeding programs. Trigenic inheritance was observed for seed coat color in B. napus. Three Sequenced Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) markers very closely linked to the three different seed coat color genes were developed. Chromosome-walking technology was used to convert the SRAP marker into a SCAR marker and a SNP marker. Subsequently, the first seed coat color gene (Bn1) marker was converted into a SCAR marker, and the second seed coat color gene (Bn2) marker was converted into a SNP marker. Digenic inheritance was observed for seed coat color genes in B. rapa. A SRAP marker was identified as being tightly linked to the major seed coat color gene (Br1). The SRAP marker was sequenced and extended sequences were obtained using chromosome-walking technology. The flanking sequences of the SRAP marker contained 24 SNPs and a 12-bp deletion position that allowed the marker to be converted into a co-dominant SNP marker and a co-dominant SCAR marker, respectively. The SCAR marker was detected in the ABI 3100 genetic analyzer with four fluorescently labeled M13 primers integrated with different SCAR primers, which permitted pooling of PCR samples for high throughput detection.

Molecular markers for seed quality traits including erucic acid content genes, seed coat color genes in Brassica napus and seed coat color genes in B. rapa were developed. A single base change in the Bn-FAE1.1 gene in the A genome and a two-base deletion in the Bn-FAE1.2 gene in the C genome produce the nearly zero content of erucic acid observed in canola. The single base change was detected as single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) marker with an ABI SNaPshot kit. A multiplexing primer set was designed by adding a polyT to the 5´ primer end to increase SNP detection throughput through sample pooling. The two-base deletion in the C genome gene was detected as a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker in an ABI 3100 Genetic analyzer. To increase the throughput, one genome specific primer was labeled with four fluorescence dyes and combined with 20 different primers to produce PCR products with different fragment sizes. These multiplexed high throughput molecular markers have been successfully implemented in our canola/rapeseed breeding programs. Trigenic inheritance was observed for seed coat color in B. napus. Three Sequenced Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) markers very closely linked to the three different seed coat color genes were developed. Chromosome-walking technology was used to convert the SRAP marker into a SCAR marker and a SNP marker. Subsequently, the first seed coat color gene (Bn1) marker was converted into a SCAR marker, and the second seed coat color gene (Bn2) marker was converted into a SNP marker. Digenic inheritance was observed for seed coat color genes in B. rapa. A SRAP marker was identified as being tightly linked to the major seed coat color gene (Br1). The SRAP marker was sequenced and extended sequences were obtained using chromosome-walking technology. The flanking sequences of the SRAP marker contained 24 SNPs and a 12-bp deletion position that allowed the marker to be converted into a co-dominant SNP marker and a co-dominant SCAR marker, respectively. The SCAR marker was detected in the ABI 3100 genetic analyzer with four fluorescently labeled M13 primers integrated with different SCAR primers, which permitted pooling of PCR samples for high throughput detection.