Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026

Separation of Avian Preovulatory Follicle Granulosa and Theca Cell Layers for Downstream Applications
Published on: October 25, 2024
Associations of Candidate Gene Polymorphisms with Egg Production and Egg Quality Traits in Atak-S Laying Hens
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, 42130 Konya, Turkey.
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between GH, GHR, IGF-1R, VIP, and NPY genes and egg quality traits in laying hens. Atak-S laying hens aged 54 weeks were monitored for 6 weeks. Egg production and egg weight were recorded daily, while egg quality traits and feed consumption were assessed weekly. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP. The GH, GHR, IGF-1R, VIP, and NPY genes were cut with MspI, HindIII, HinfI, HinfI, and DraI, respectively. The AA genotype of the GH gene was associated with increased egg shape index, eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness (p < 0.05). In the IGF-1R region, significant associations were found with egg weight and egg shape index (p < 0.05). Additionally, the VIP12 TT genotype was linked to higher egg production (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the GH gene may serve as a selection marker for shell-related traits, IGF-1R for egg weight and egg shape, and VIP for improving egg production. Overall, the results obtained in this study indicate that the genes studied have the potential to be candidate markers for improving egg performance and quality; however, their use in marker-assisted selection requires further studies in larger and more diverse populations.
Related Concept Videos
Epistasis
Epistasis Analysis
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...
Genetic Variation
Genes exist in different versions called alleles,...
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...
Complementation Tests
Organisms heterozygous for different mutations are crossed pairwise in all combinations. If present on different genes, the mutations can complement each other by providing the missing...

