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The Dominant white mutation in the PMEL17 gene does not cause visual impairment in chickens
Author(s) -
Karlsson AnnaCarin,
Kerje Susanne,
Hallböök Finn,
Jensen Per
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2009.00714.x
Subject(s) - biology , white (mutation) , mutation , contrast (vision) , wild type , phenotype , allele , genotype , genetics , mutant , gene , artificial intelligence , computer science
Objective To examine whether the Dominant white mutation (causing a hypopigmented phenotype in chicken) affects the visual ability and gives rise to ocular abnormalities in chickens ( Gallus gallus ). Procedure Chickens homozygous for either the Dominant white mutation or the wild‐type alleles were tested in a visual contrast behavioral test and subjected to histological and ophthalmologic examination. Results There were no differences between the genotypes in the visual contrast behavioral test, and there were no abnormal structures among the Dominant white chickens in the ophthalmic examination. The histological sections from the Dominant white chickens did not differ from the wild‐type chicken in structure, photoreceptor density, or RPE pigmentation. Conclusions The results indicate that the Dominant white mutation in PMEL17 does not seem to affect the visual ability or eye structures in chickens.