Kartenbasierte und Funktionsorientierte genomische Ansätze zur Analyse der Vererbung und Ausprägung von Merkmalen des Wasserbindungsvermögens in kommerziellen Schweinepopulationen

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Tosso Leeb; Professor Dr. Klaus Wimmers
• Subject Area: Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Husbandry
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 168151505

In this project we will investigate the genes underlying drip loss variation in commercial pig populations. On the one hand, we will continue to analyse candidate genes identified during the initial phase of the DRIP research unit. On the other hand, we will also employ novel cutting edge experimental strategies, which became only available during the last two years. We plan to study the expression of all transcripts including non-coding RNAs in selected regions of the QTL-intervals using tiling microarrays. With this approach we will look for differences in the expression patterns between phenotypically divergent and QTL-genotype divergent pigs. Furthermore, we will perform a genome-wide association analysis to directly identify the causative loci for drip loss in commercial pig populations. Selected candidate genes will be characterised in detail to provide markers for improved breeding programs with respect to meat quality and ideally also to identify the causative mutations themselves.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland