A number of Korean Chicken breeds were registered in Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS, http://dad.fao.org/) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Evaluation of genetic diversity and relationship of local breeds is an important factor towards the identification of unique and valuable genetic resources. Therefore, this study aimed to analysis the genetic diversity and relationship of 22 Korean Chicken breeds using 12 microsatellite (MS) markers. The mean number of alleles for each variety was 5.52, ranging from a 3.75 (Leghorn F; NF) to a 7.0 (Ross). The most diverse breed was the Hanhyup3 (HCC), which had the highest expected heterozygosity (HExp) (0.754) and polymorphic information content (PIC) (0.711). The NF was the least diverse population, having the lowest HExp (0.467) and PIC (0.413). As a result of the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) confirmed that Hy-line Brown (HL) and Lohmann Brown (LO) are very close to each other and that Leghorn and Rhode Island Red (RIR) are clearly distinguished from other groups. Thus, the reliability and power of identification using 12 types of MS markers were improved, and the genetic diversity and probability of individual discrimination were confirmed through statistical analysis. This study is expected to be used as basic data for the identification of Korean chicken breeds, and our results indicated that these multiplex PCR marker sets will have considerable applications in population genetic structure analysis.

Halla horse is crossbreed between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses and is used for riding, racing and meat production. Thus, molecular genetic studies are needed to establish and preserve the industrially valuable Halla horses. This study aimed to analyses the genetic diversity and population structure through 12 microsatellite (MS) markers for Halla and putatively related 3 breeds (Jeju, Mongolian and Thoroughbred horses). On average, the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity (Hobs), expected heterozygosity (Hexp), and polymorphic information content (PIC) among all horses were 10, 0.767, 0.799, and 0.771, respectively. Neighbor-joining tree and STRUCTURE analysis showed that Halla horses were between Thoroughbred and Jeju horses, tend to more influenced by Thoroughbred horses. Therefore, these results could be considered for use as the basic genetic breed relationships resource among the horse breeds (Jeju, Mongolian, and Thoroughbred horses) related to the origins of the Halla horse.

Meat and carcass quality attributes are important factors influencing consumer preference and profitability in the pork industry. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are essential for livestock breeding and improvement. In the present study, the pig Perilipin 2 (PLIN2 ) gene was characterized with the aim of detecting genetic variation at these loci in relation to economic traits in Berkshire pigs. Four SNPs (G6714C, G6813A, G10340A, and G10632A) were detected in this studied. Statistical analysis indicated that G6714C was significantly associated with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) color score, G6813A, and G10340A significantly affected NPPC color score and NPPC marbling score, and G10632A significantly affected backfat thickness (BF) (p < 0.05). Therefore, the molecular markers used in the present study might provide a useful basis for identification and improvement of traits in the Berkshire pigs.

Food and agricultural production sector, especially livestock production is vital for Mongolia’s economic and social development. Domestic sheep play key roles for Mongolians, providing food (meat, milk) and raw materials (wool, sheepskin), but genetic diversity, origin of sheep populations in Mongolia have not been well studied. Studies of population genetic diversity is important research field in conservation and restoration of animal breeds and genetic resources. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate genetic characteristics and estimate origin through the analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region D-loop and Cytochrome b of Mongolian indigenous sheep (Mongolian native, Orkhon and Altanbulag) and one Europe sheep (Suffolk). As a result of there were found, 220 SNPs (Single nucleotide polymorphism) in the D-loop region, 28 SNPs in the Cytochrome B region, furthermore, 77 Haplotypes. The nucleotide diversity was only found in D-loop region (n = 0.0184). Phylogenetic analysis showed that 3 (A, B, and C) of 5 haplogroups of sheep have been identified in our research. Haplogroup C was only found in Mongolian indigenous sheep. Haplogroup D and E were not observed. As a result of haplogroups, haplogroup A was dominant (n = 46 of 94 sheeps), followed by haplogroup B (n = 36) and haplogroup C (n = 12). Sequence analysis showed that T deletion, insertion and heteroplasmy in D-loop region occurred at a high rate in Mongolian indigenous sheep population (T insertion = 47, T deletion = 83). The heteroplasmy, which has never been found in Mongolian sheep, has been newly discovered in this study. As a result, the Mongolian sheep varieties, which mainly derived from Asia, were in hybridization with European sheep varieties.

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of genetic diversity and relationships of Korean native black goat (n = 58), compared with the exotic breed, Boer (n = 97). For the analysis of genetic characterization 11 microsatellite markers (MAF065, INRA063, CSRD247, OarFCB20, SRCRSP5, INRA006, ILSTS008, ILSTS011, INRA005, ILSTS087, SRCRSP8) were genotyped. The number of alleles was observed 3 (INRA005) to 10 (SRCRSP8) each markers. The mean expected and observed heterozygosity (Hexp and Hobs) and polymorphism information content (PIC) for the Korean native black goat breed varied from 0.551 to 0.860, 0.517 to 0.948 and 0.464 to 0.835, respectively. Principal Components Analysis (PCoA) and FCA results showed that Korean native black goat breed was confirmed to be clearly separated from bore breed. These results were scientific evidence that Korean native black goat represents a unique and valuable animal genetic resource.

소의 14번 염색체에 위치한 2,4-Dienoyl CoA reductase1(DECR1) 유전자는 polyunsaturated fatty enoyl-CoA의 β-oxidation과 연관된 호르몬으로 지질대사조절에 영향을 미치는 유전자로 알려져 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 한우의 경제형질 관련 DNA 마커 개발을 목적으로 DECR1 유전자 내의 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)를 탐색하고, 경제형질간의 연관성을 분석하고자 수행하였다. 먼저 부모가 서로 다른 한우 종모우에서 DECR1 유전자 내의 SNP를 탐색한 결과 총 13개의 SNPs를 확인하였고, 이 중 G20788A는 valine(Val)에서 methionine(Met)으로, A23262G는 isoleucine(Ile)에서 valine(Val)으로 바뀌는 missense mutation으로 확인되었다. 그리고 도체 성적을 보유한 200두의 한우를 대상으로 missense mutation으로 확인된 G20788A와 A23262G의 유전자형과 경제형질간의 연관성을 분석하였다. 그 결과 G20788A는 근내지방도와 도체중에서 A23262G는 등지방두께, 배최장근단면적, 근내지방도와 도체중에서 통계적 유의성을 확인 할 수 있었고(P<0.05), 이를 통해 missence mutation인 G20788A와 A23262G는 각 경제형질에 영향을 미치는 것을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구에서 탐색된 한우 DECR1 유전자의 SNP 유전자형은 한우 선발 및 개량을 위한 DNA 마커로 활용 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

Recently, with the increase of meat production, high quality and safety of meat have been strongly emphasized by Korean consumers. Marbling in beef has been regarded as an important criterion deciding meat quality in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify the transcriptional level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in longissimus muscle samples of 46 Hanwoo. The level of IGF-1 transcripts was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and molecular connection of IGF-1 was analyzed using the Pathway Studio program (Ver 9.0). Increase of marbling score (MS) induced increase of IGF-1 transcripts level in the muscle and there is a significant correlation (p<0.05) between IGF-1 mRNA expression and MS. The pathway study showed that IGF-1 genes are regulated in insulin, fatty acid synthase, leptin, and corticotrophin releasing hormone. These results suggest that IGF-1 might be used as a useful marker for the improvement of economic traits in Hanwoo.

MYC (v-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homologue) is a regulator gene that encodes for a nuclear phosphoprotein. Porcine MYC gene was mapped on chromosome SSC 4p13 and is associated with a variety of functions such as cell proliferation and cell growth. MYC expression is coupled to a multitude of physiological processes and is regulated by hormones, growth factors, cytokines, lymphokines, nutritional status, development and differentiation. MYC is also involved in myogenesis, muscle hyperplasia and adipogenesis. In this study, we investigated SNPs in MYC gene and their association with economic traits in Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire populations. We detected a single point mutation in exon 3 of porcine MYC gene as a change of T to C at 906 base (amino acid position 302, nonsynomous mutation of alanine) in MYC-N domain. MYC mutation (T906C) was significantly associated with age at 90 kg in these breeds, signifying that this mutation can serve as a selection marker for growth traits in pigs.