Stručni rad
THE INFLUENCE OF IMPRINTED GENES ON SWINE GENOM
Kristina Budimir
Gordana Kralik
Vladimir Margeta
Sažetak
Over the past 15 years of a new way in analyzing the impact of genes on production traits in swine developed. Intensive production conditions have led to the exploitation of the swine genetic potential in the improvement of their productive and reproductive traits. The development of new methods for analysing the genome provides the realization of planned goals. Definition of epigenetics was set by Waddington in 1940. The term “epigenetics” explains control “over the genes” and the influence of environmental factors on the regulation of gene expression. It is based on the study of inherited variations in gene expression that occur without changes in DNA sequence. Imprinted genes occur as a result of epigenetic modifications that
include DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications. Chemical additions on the DNA that alter DNA molecule create epigenom. Changes in epigenom can occur because of environmental factors impact or mutations. Although both allele of a gene are present, only one of them is expressed, while the other is inactive.
Until now, 120 imprinted genes have been identified in humans and mouse, 10 in sheep, 7 in cattle and 22 in pigs. The presence of imprinted genes in genome is difficult to determine because of their presence in specific tissues and development stages. First discovered imprinted gene was IGF2. This gene is expressed through the father and his influence in swine is reflected on the properties of muscle and
adipose tissue. Genetic imprinting has great influence on production traits. Back fat thickness, body weight and growth are characteristics affected by imprinted genes. Imprinted genes have the greatest influence on the prenatal and neonatal growth. Understanding the activities of imprinted genes will be possible only with the development
of methods of their analysis.
Ključne riječi
epigenetics; epigenetic modifications; imprinted genes
Hrčak ID:
102700
URI
Datum izdavanja:
28.5.2013.
Posjeta: 1.141 *