Mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting quality and production traits in egg layers
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients
Published on: August 22, 2018
M Tuiskula-Haavisto1, M Honkatukia, J Vilkki
1Animal Production Research, Animal Breeding, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Jokioinen. maria.tuiskula-haavisto@mtt.fi
Abstract:
A mapping population segregating for egg quality traits was created by a line cross between two egg layer lines and screened by a genome scan. The F2 generation consisted of 307 hens, which were scored for egg quality and production traits. The mapping population was genotyped for 99 microsatellite loci, spanning nine macrochromosomes and five small linkage groups. The linkage maps were used in mapping QTL affecting 14 traits, by using multiple markers and a least-squares approach. We detected 14 genomewide significant and six suggestive QTL that were located on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 5, and, 8 and sex chromosome Z. A significant QTL affecting egg white thinning was found on chromosome 2. For eggshell strength, a significant QTL was found on chromosome Z. For production traits, the most interesting area was on chromosome 4, where highly significant QTL effects were detected for BW, egg weight, and feed intake in the same area. The most significant QTL explains 25.8% of the phenotypic variance in F2 of body weight. An area affecting the age at first egg, egg weight, and the number of eggs was located on chromosome Z.
More Related Videos
06:38In Ovo Feeding of Commercial Broiler Eggs: An Accurate and Reproducible Method to Affect Muscle Development and Growth
Published on: September 20, 2021
07:24A Hybrid DNA Extraction Method for the Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Bacterial Communities from Poultry Production Samples
Published on: December 10, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Epistasis
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Epistasis Analysis
Lethal Alleles
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...