УДК 636.5: 577.21

L. V. Shulika

Anotation. One of the modern ways to increase the selection process effectiveness is the usage of molecular genetic markers, which helps to define DNA polymorphism of investigated animals. Such approach, named marker-assisted selection, needs the researches of associations between markers and productivity traits. In this case the most perspective markers are those situated within genes that encode different hormones or regulatory factors. Myostatin (MSTN) and insulin (INS) genes are considered as such genes for meat productivity traits of poultry, particularly chickens. Perspective markers of live weight of chickens within these genes are MSTN G2109A and INS A+3971G mutations, respectively.

Thereby, the aim of the study was to analyze live weight of chicken of dual-purpose productivity type depending on the genotypes of marker mutations of myostatin and insulin loci.

The research was conducted within the population of line G2 of White Plymouth Rock chicken breed that belongs to dual-purpose productivity type (Birkivsky meat-egg chickens). Live weight of experimental group of hens (n=57) was measured on 17th, 21th and 27th weeks of life. Genotyping was made with usage of PCR-RFLP method. Groups of chickens with different genotypes were compared by using Student t-test. In the case when data distribution was not corresponded to normal, Mann-Whitney U-test was used.

As result of conduced investigations, significant associations for MSTN G2109A mutation were revealed. Particularly, live weight of chickens on the 21th week of life was reliably higher (p≤0,05) for AG heterozygotes comparing to GG homozygotes on 8,1 %; or 0,18 kg. Furthermore, chickens of AG genotype had reliable higher live weight (p≤0,05) than mean value of the whole population on 5,3 %; or 0,12 kg. Concerning INS A+3971G mutation there were no significant differences on live weight between groups of chicken with different genotypes during the whole period of observation (17-21 weeks). It is recommended to use received data in selection programs that involving marker-assisted selection.