Genome-wide association studies of inflammatory bowel disease in German shepherd dogs

Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is considered a multifactorial disease caused by complex interactions between the intestinal immune system, intestinal microbiota and environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Although IBD can affect any breed, German shepherd dogs (GSD) in the UK are at increased risk of developing the disease. Based on previous evidence, the aim of the present study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which may confer genetic susceptibility or resistance to IBD using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA blood or saliva samples of 96 cases and 98 controls. Genotyping of cases and controls was performed on the Canine Illumina HD SNP array and data generated was analyzed using PLINK. Several SNPs and regions on chromosomes 7,9,11 and 13 were detected to be associated with IBD using different SNP-by-SNP association methods and FST windows approach. Searching one Mb up-and down-stream of the most significant SNPs, as identified by single SNP analysis as well as 200Kb before and after the start and the end position of the associated regions identified by FST windows approach, we identified 63 genes. Using a combination of pathways analysis and a list of genes that have been reported to be involved in human IBD, we identified 16 candidate genes potentially associated with IBD in GSD

Corporate Cyber-Censorship: The Problems with Freedom of Expression Online

This article will explore the problem of the applicability of human rights law to the corporate entities that own and enable the operation of the Internet. The focus will be the status of the right to freedom of expression online, and the different possibilities that have been suggested in order to ensure that users have and are able to exercise this right. As the Internet is a communicative tool that allows for an unprecedented global discourse, freedom of expression is naturally of primary importance in the online context

This Little Piggy Went To Market: The Rest Of The Story

Swine production is changing. It\u27s happening primarily through the implementation of technological advancements, especially those involving genetics and genomics, the study of heredity and DNA. Iowa State University is one of the world\u27s leaders in these developments and their applications. Genetics has played a role in improving the pig ever since the beginning of domestication. But now its advancing at ever increasing rates for the benefit of both producers and consumers. Many people, including students new to agriculture and even some farmers, would be quite amazed at the level of technology that\u27s widely used in swine production today

Genetic Marker Discovery for Gene Map Construction in the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is important to the aquaculture industry and as a food source, but only limited genome information exists. The demand for specific shrimp broodstocks with high disease resistance and growth rate is increasing so the construction of a genetic map with easily usable genetic markers is a high priority. Using all the available public genomics information, a largescale discovery effort for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers has produced the identification of 1,576 SNPs in 545 unique contigs. The genotyping work will be performed on the standardized Sequenom TM platform on a ready-to-use shrimp resource family, which will be used to develop a shrimp genetic map, as well as facilitate the mapping of quantitative trait locus (QTL) for growth rate and disease resistance

Association of Liver X Receptor Alpha and Beta Genes with Carcass Lean and Fat Content in Pigs

A three-generation resource family of a cross between the Berkshire and Yorkshire (BY) pig breeds and four pig commercial populations were used to investigate whether the Liver X Receptor Alpha (LXRA) and Beta (LXRB) genes play a role in influencing lean and fat growth in pigs. Our current findings from this study have suggested that LXRA and LXRB might have potential effects, especially for loin lean and fat content

Rapid communication: Physical and genetic mapping of the Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) gene to porcine chromosome 13

Genus and Species. Sus scrofa. Locus Name. Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ). Source and Description of Primers. Primers were designed in exon 5 from a published porcine cDNA sequence (GenBank accession no. AJ006756). Forward primer: 5′ GAC ATG AAT TCC TTA ATG 3′; reverse primer: 5′ ACT TCA CAG CGA ACT CGA ACT T 3′

Introgressing Multiple Quantitative Trait Loci through Backcross Breeding Programs

The ability to introduce favorable alleles for multiple genes from a donor breed into a commercial breed through a backcross program of limited size was evaluated. The effects of fraction selected, marker interval, and number of quantitative trait loci were considered. Informative flanking markers were used to select progeny with the largest expected number of recipient QTL alleles for 5 generations. Wit

Determining the Genetic Basis for Knee Disease in the Newfoundland Breed of Dog

A survey was performed to determine the number of Newfoundlands that were seen at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (ISUCVM) for cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) from January, 1996 through December, 2002. Of the 163 Newfoundlands seen at the ISU-CVM, 22% were diagnosed with CCLD. Further study of Newfoundlands was performed to collect pedigrees and ascertain whether or not individuals that were affected with CCLD or not were related. This information was used to determine the level of inbreeding, and the pattern of inheritance (i.e. recessive, sex-linked) for CCLD. This study found a recessive pattern of inheritance with partial penetrance of 59%. Therefore a dog has a 59% chance of showing signs of the disease when it has the recessive genotype

Mapping of the Melatonin Receptor 1a (MTNR1A) Gene in Pigs, Sheep and Cattle

Human and sheep Melatonin receptor 1a (MTNR1A) gene information was used to clone a portion of the coding region of this gene in pigs, and to identify polymorphisms of the gene for its assignment to both the genetic linkage and physical maps. MTNR1A maps to pig chromosome 17, establishing a new region of conserved synteny between this chromosome and human chromosome 4. Furthermore, we have assigned MTNR1A to bovine chromosome 27 and sheep chromosome 26. The addition of genes like MTNR1A to livestock genome maps allows questions about evolutionary events and the genetic basis for quantitative traits in livestock to be addressed