Prolein polymorphism in a randombred chicken population

Polymorphism in plasma amylase, plasma alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase and red cell esterase-D of the Athens-Canadian randombred (ACRB) population of chickens was determined by polyacrylamide and starch gel electrophoresis. Amylase alleles Amy-1^A and Amy-1^B were segregating in the ACRB population with frequencies of 0.45 and 0.55 respectively. For the plasma alkaline phosphatase the F and S bands, the B band and a new isozyme migrating at a faster rate than the previously reported F band were detected. A genetic nomenclature for plasma alkaline phosphatase is suggested which considers the difference between the F and S bands as the presence or absence of sialic acid attached to a primary protein.
Plasma esterase activity was observed in all four of the regions previously reported, but there was no polymorphism found in any of the loci. All birds in this population showed the same red-cell esterase-D phenotype which consisted of a main band with sub-bands on each side.     

Protein polymorphism in quail populations selected for large body size

The polymorphism of five enzyme loci (amylase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, for 4-week body weight was compared to that of the unselected control line (C). for 4 week body weight was compared to that of the unselected control line (C). Three loci in the C line and two in the P line demonstrated polymorphism. Plasma amylase was separated into six bands and zymograms were classified on the basis of these bands into nine phenotypes. Three of the nine types were of relatively high activity and six were of relatively low activity. All nine types were found in the C line, whereas, all birds of the P line had only the most active type. Two alkaline phosphatase alleles (Akp-2^B and Akp-2^C) were segregating in the C line. Gene frequencies of alkaline phosphatase for the Akp-2^B allele were 0.92 in the C line and 1.00 in the P line. Two albumin alleles (Alb^Q1 and Alb^Q2) were segregating in both populations. Gene frequencies for the Alb^Q1 allele were 0.74 in the C line and 0.81 in the P line. Two red cell esterase-D alleles (Es-D^F and Es-D^s) were segregating in both populations. The gene frequency for the Es-D^s allele (0.61) was higher than that of the Es-D^F allele in the C line. In the P line the frequency of the Es-D^F allele was higher than that of the Es-D^s allele. Heterozygosities of the C and P lines were estimated as 0.2258 and 0.1560 respectively. The relative inbreeding coefficient of the P line, calculated from heterozygosities was 0.31.     

A comment on Feldesman's analysis of the distal humerus

It is the combination of anatomy, behavior, and molecular biology that is necessary for the analysis. No one line of evidence is adequate.     

Gestational diabetes mellitus in a cynomolgus monkey with group A streptococcal metritis and hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed retrospectively in a ten-year-old female cynomolgus monkey. The mother developed severe purulent group A streptococcal metritis resulting in fetal sepsis. After parturition, the mother died from signs consistent with hemolytic uremic syndrome.     

Genetic variability of resistance to Eimeria acervulina and E. tenella in chickens

Summary The genetic variability of 18 sire families of the Athens-Canadian randombred population infected with coccidiosis was assessed by examining the response variables of weight gain, packed red blood cell volume, mortality and coccidial lesions. A significant gain and PCV depression and high lesion scores for Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina were produced in the infected group compared to the noninfected group. Significant variation among the sire families was observed for all of the response variables except E. acervulina lesions and a significant sex x sire interaction was observed for weight gain. The heritability (h²) estimates for the response variables revealed that resistance to coccidiosis in chickens is moderately heritable. The h² estimates for gain and PCV increased with the coccidial infections indicating that maximum progress in selecting for resistance should be made when the population was exposed to coccidial infection. Gain was positively correlated to the other measures of resistance and thus selecting for coccidial resistance should not reduce growth rates. PCV was similarly correlated but had higher positive correlation with E. tenella lesion. Percent mortality which is the selection parameter in most coccidial selection programs was correlated with resistance to coccidiosis. The phenotypic and genotypic correlations demonstrated that chickens susceptible to E. tenella were also susceptible to E. acervulina. Total lesion scores were moderately to highly correlated with the other variables and would be a suitable variable to use in coccidiosis experimentation including a genetic selection program for resistance. This study shows that progress could be made in selecting for resistance to coccidiosis in chickens using one or a combination of these response variables.