SCREENING OF THE ACID MEAT CONDITION IN THE RENDEMENT NAPOLE GENE USING POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION - RESTRICTION FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM

A mutation in the rendement napole (RN) gene causes the acid meat condition which results to poor meat quality due to its reduced water holding capacity, low pH, pale color, reduced processing and cooking yield due to increased drip, and strong metallic taste. This study was conducted to detect the mutation in the RN gene in 535 commercial breeder pigs from the Philippines. Blood collection was done then subjected to DNA extraction and genotyping using polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using the enzyme BsrBI, then validated by DNA sequencing. Results revealed that 97.01% of the breeder pigs did not have the mutation in their RN gene, while 2.69% had at least one copy of the defective allele in their gene. The acid meat condition has only been previously detected in the Hampshire breed whereas this study found the mutations predominantly in Pietrain and Landrace breed they were classified as normal (rn/rn), heterozygous mutants (RN/rn), and homozygous mutants (RN/RN) which allowed breeding systems to be developed ensuring that all offspring are free of the defect.  This genetic screening will help in detecting the presence of the defect in a given swine population and reduce the unwanted effects on meat quality thus increasing its market value

Screening of BCL-2 associated X protein gene polymorphism associated with scrotal hernia in domesticated swine using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

Objective This study was conducted to screen scrotal hernia in domesticated swine from selected breeders in the Philippines. This defect is associated with a cytosine to thymine mutation in the BCL-2 associated X protein (BAX) gene of swine. Methods Genetic screening was done by DNA extraction followed by amplification and digestion using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, amplifying the 416 bp region of the BAX gene that was subjected to digestion using the Ear I enzyme. Sequencing was also conducted to validate the results. Results Results revealed that out of 538 samples tested, 411 (76.4%) of the samples were found to be normal whereas the remaining were carriers of the mutation in which 80 (14.9%) were heterozygous mutants and 47 (8.7%) were homozygous mutants. Pietrain breed was found to have the highest incidence. Conclusion Having a scrotal hernia eliminates the chances of using the boar as a breeder stock because the following generations arising from it would most likely exhibit herniation. It is therefore advised to establish a genetic screening method for Scrotal Hernia in the Philippines to eliminate the negative gene from the herd