Study of the genetic conformations of the DGAT1 gene in the local and Holstein breeds of cows raised in Iraq using PCR-RFLP technology

Abstract

      This study was conducted in the Genetic Engineering Laboratory of the College of Agriculture, University of Basra. In this study, 50 dairy cows of the two breeds of local cows and the Holstein breed were used (34 local cows and 16 Holstein cows), which were selected from some breeders in Basra Governorate in relation to the local cows. As for the Holstein cows, they were from the Al-Qadisiyah cattle station. Blood samples were drawn and placed in a test tube containing an anticoagulant for the purpose of extracting DNA. Then the DGAT1 gene was amplified and cut to reveal the genetic makeup of this gene. The current study focused on revealing the genetic makeup of the DGAT1 gene. The DGAT1 gene was amplified and cut using the enzyme (Taq1) and was Obtaining the two alleles, the A allele and the K allele, resulted in three genotypes KK, AK, and AA. The AA genotype showed one band at position 411bp, the kk three bands of sizes 411, 110, and 85, and the AK genotype showed two bands of sizes 411bp and 110bp. The Holstein breed was characterized by the presence of the KK and AK genotypes, while the local breed was characterized by the presence of the AA and AK genotypes. The aim of the study: to determine the genotypes of the DGAT1 gene in cows raised in Iraq using PCR-RFLP technology.