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Evidence for the Tf locus being associated with an early lethal factor in a strain of pigs
Author(s) -
Imlah P.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
animal blood groups and biochemical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0003-3480
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2052.1970.tb01134.x
Subject(s) - biology , locus (genetics) , allele , litter , offspring , genotype , transferrin , genetics , heterozygote advantage , breed , gene , endocrinology , pregnancy , ecology
Summary The frequencies of three co‐dominant alleles Tf A , Tf B and Tf c controlling the serum transferrin locus in native and exotic breeds of pig in the United Kingdom are shown. Matings between different transferrin genotypes and segregation of the transferrin alleles in piglets from 131 litters are also recorded. In eleven litters from matings within a closely related group of animals heterozygous for the Tf c allele, no offspring of the Tf c / Tf c genotype were born. Matings between heterozygous related boars believed to be carrying a lethal factor linked to the Tf locus and heterozygous unrelated sows of the Saddleback breed, resulted in offspring of the Tf c / Tf c genotype being born. An excess of heterozygote genotypes was found in all litters from matings between animals heterozygous for the Tf c allele. In all these litters the average litter size was 0.5 piglets less per litter than the average for all other litters studied. For the eleven litters from matings involving closely related animals heterozygous for the Tf c allele, the average litter size was 1.4 piglets less per litter than the average for all other litters. The possibility of an early lethal factor being linked to the Tf locus in this family of pigs is discussed.