Fingerprinting of fecB gene in five Egyptian sheep breeds

Recently, many aspects of FecB gene, including reproductive endocrinology, organs development and body mass have been studied. FecB has an additive effect on litter size and ovulation. The present investigation was carried out to study polymorphism by forced PCR-RFLP of FecB gene in five Egyptian local sheep breeds and its comparison with other foreign sheep breeds. Genomic DNA was isolated from a total of 100 animals of Egyptian sheep breeds namely Rahmani, Ossimi, Awassi, Barki and Awassi x Barki crossbred. Forced PCR of the FecB gene 190 base pair (bp) was amplified using specific primer designed to introduc a point mutation in the resulting PCR products with FecB carrier sheep containing an AvaII restriction site (G|GACC), whereas products from noncarriers lacked (of) this site. .Digestion of FecB gene 190 base pair with AvaII restriction enzyme resulted in non carrier 190 bp band (wild type) in all the animals belonging to the five Egyptian breeds studied revealing absence of this restriction site in those five breeds.