Association study of polymorphisms in miRNA-1687 with growth traits of chickens

Abstract

Polymorphisms within microRNAs can lead to phenotypic variations in organisms. The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential impact of the pre-miR-1687 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the economic characteristics of weight and body size in chickens. The SNP was genotyped using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. A linear mixed model was utilized to analyse the associations between the SNP and chicken body size and growth traits. The SNP in the pre-miR-1687 gene was correlated with F2 chicken body weight (BW) at birth and at 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age. The SNP in the gga-miR-1687 gene was correlated with shank length, shank girth, pectoral angle (at 4 weeks), and pelvic breadth (at 8 weeks). Different BW genotypes were observed in the studied flocks. The changes in the secondary structure of pre-miR-1687 and in the free energy values were estimated using online M-fold software. The results serve as a helpful resource for subsequent research on the mechanisms and functions of miRNAs. In addition, the study provides a credible basis for the application of biomolecular technology in poultry breeding.