Study the Effect of Genetic Polymorphism in the Estrogen Receptor Gene (ESR) On the Meat Characteristics and Some Production Traits of Japanese Quail

Abstract

   Study was Procedure in the poultry field of the Agricultural Research Station / College of Agriculture and marshes / Thi- Qar University for the period from 10/10/2023 to 3/15/2024, the period of field and laboratory work, as 150 Japanese quail birds were raised from the age of one day to 35 days.

   Birds were numbered with plastic numbers, and the weights were taken weekly to calculate the weekly weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. After the end of the breeding period, the birds were slaughtered and the relative weight of the edible internal organs (heart, liver, gizzard), tenderness, and juiciness were calculated. Genetic analyzes were conducted in the laboratory of the Marshes Research Center/ Thi- Qar University. With the aim of extracting the genetic material and determining the phenotypic structures as well as performing electrophoresis of the studied samples, the amplification product was then sent to the KCM, for the purpose of determining the sequence of the nitrogenous bases of the studied part of the gene, determining the genotype of the ESR gene and studying its relationship with some productive and sensory traits. Which included (the rate of weekly weight gain, the efficiency of food conversion, the relative weight of the eaten parts, freshness and juiciness), where the location of the variation in the nitrogenous bases of the studied gene was diagnosed, and the genotypes resulting from this variation were determined, with the studied piece registered in the Gene Bank LC816736, and the results were as follows:

1- The possibility of amplifying the studied segment of the ESR gene, which is 301 base pairs, and confirming it through electrophoresis examination.

2- Knowing the location of the mutation in segment 100.T>C, as it did not change the amino acids of the ESR gene.

3- Determine Three genotypes as : CC, CT, and TT. The percentages were 12%, 74%, and 14%, and the frequency of the C allele was 0.49, while the frequency of the T allele was 0.51.

4-The results did not show significant differences in the weekly weight gain and food conversion efficiency for the resulting three genotypes.

5- There were no significant differences between the three genotypes of the studied gene for the weights of each of the eaten offal (heart, liver, and gizzard).

6-The results did not show significant differences between the three genotypes of the studied gene for tenderness and juiciness.