A total of 244 domestic pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. A 999 bp fragment of the MTCYB gene was amplified. The amplification products were digested with restriction enzymes. PCR-RFLP for Mval restriction enzyme was observed. Frequencies of alleles were as follows: MTCYBC-0.926, MTCYBG- 0.074. The frequencies of MTCYB/Mval alleles found in this study for non-homing pigeons considerably deviate from the values found for homing/racing pigeons (allele MTCYBG occurred only in the non-homing breeds).
The article reviews the main milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) protein, butyrophilin. Butyrophilin is an acidic, transmembrane glycoprotein which reveals the general receptor structure. Its unique location within the cell, the domain structure of the protein and site-specific expression occurring only during lactation indicate that butyrophilin protein is of great importance in milk lipid secretion process.
A broad analysis of organisms is possible using molecular DNA as a marker. Mitochondrial genome and genes present in mtDNA, e.g. cytochrome b gene, are widely used in investigations and the significance of this research is becoming increasing. This gene is coded by heavy (H) strand of mtDNA. Cytochrome b is one of 11 subunits composed of bc1 complex of respiratory chain of mitochondria, the sequence of which is written down in the mitochondrial genome. Cytochrome b gene traits are a slow rate of variations during evolution, the presence of some parts of the gene that are more conserved and those which show high divergence rates. Those traits make the cytochrome b gene useful as a marker in many analyses. The cytochrome b gene is used as a tool in such studies as: legal and veterinary medicine, palaeontology, as well as phylogenetics, and it can attain the status of a universal metric.
The study aimed at identifying the polymorphism of domestic pigeon αA-globin gene which can be a potential homing marker in selection of racing pigeons. A total of 329 domestic pigeons were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP)method. The PCR products were digested with 17 restriction endonucleases. One RFLP – detected with HphI – was found in intron 1 and represented a C/T mutation. The second RFLP – detected with BseLI – was a point mutation in the 3’UTR region of the gene (C/T mutation). The polymorphism in the 3’UTR region of the pigeon αA-globin gene can potentially affect the stability of mRNA and modify the gene expression. The mechanisms of haemoglobin function reflecting variants of the αA-globin gene remain unknown.