Genetic investigation of a hereditary disorder in Japanese Black cattle

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H05016
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Kunieda Tetsuo 岡山大学, 環境生命科学研究科, 教授 (80178011)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 揖斐 隆之 岡山大学, 環境生命科学研究科, 准教授 (70335305)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 黒毛和種 / 遺伝性疾患 / 遺伝子診断法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to identify the causative gene for micrognathia and renal hypoplasia that occurs in Japanese Black cattle and to establish a genetic diagnostic method. The chromosomal localization of the causative gene was determined by linkage analysis using a pedigree including affected animals, and consequently a candidate gene was identified. Since the exact structure and nucleotide sequence of this gene were not clarified, we determined the nucleotide sequence of this gene. Based on these information, we investigated whether there was a causative mutation, but we could not identify the mutation that could affect the function of gene on the exons. Then, we investigated other regions of this gene including introns and finally found several nucleotide substitutions that could be specific to the affected animals

Free Research Field

動物遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

黒毛和種は我が国の主要な肉用牛であり、その優れた肉質から国際的にも評価は高く、我が国の農畜産業にとって貴重な動物遺伝資源である。この様な黒毛和種に発生する遺伝性疾患は家畜生産における大きな経済的損失につながる。そこで本研究は、黒毛和種に発生する遺伝性の下顎短小・腎低形成症の原因遺伝子を解明し、その予防のための遺伝子診断法を開発しようとするものであり、我が国の畜産業における意義は大きく、また、特定の疾患の原因を解明することによる学術的意義も大きい。