Investigation of LHX4 gene polymorphism in Awassi and Çukurova meat sheep

This study aimed to investigate the effect of LHX4 gene polymorphisms on growth traits such as height at the wither (cm), height at the rump (cm), chest depth (cm), body length (cm), chest width (cm), rump width (cm), chest girth (cm), and body weight (kg) in Awassi and Çukurova Meat Sheep (ÇET) breeds. Blood samples were collected from a total of 99 animals, 48 of which were Awassi and 51 of which were ÇET breeds, and genomic DNA was isolated from these blood samples at Çukurova University Faculty of Agriculture Small Ruminant Breeding Farm. The LHX4 gene region was screened by PCR using two different primer sets (LHX4-P2 and LHX4-P3). D (282 bp) and I (294 bp) alleles were determined in the amplicons of both primers, and II (insertion/insertion) and DD (deletion/deletion) genotype frequencies were calculated. At the LHX4-P2 locus, DD and II genotype frequencies were calculated as 42% and 58% for the Awassi breed, respectively, whereas genotype frequencies for ÇET breed were calculated as 40% and 60%, respectively. At the LHX4-P3 locus, DD and II genotype frequencies were calculated as 62% and 38% for the Awassi breed and 70% and 30% for ÇET breed, respectively. Individuals with heterozygous genotypes were not identified in the study. No significant relationship was found between the DD and II genotypes of the LHX4-P2 and LHX4-P3 loci and growth traits in either breed. Keywords: Sheep, Awassi, ÇET, LHX4 gene, growth traits