Polymorphisms in swine candidate genes for meat quality detected by PCR-SSCP

In order to identify SNPs in seven candidate genes for meat quality, PCR-SSCP experiments were carried out. Statistical analyses in a population of 240 individuals identified the animals constituting the extreme tails of the Gaussian distribution for three selected phenotypes: muscle compactness, fat thickness, and the principal component 1. Twenty-two of these animals were chosen for the molecular analyses. Several fragments in the candidate genes were tested by PCR-SSCP and many different patterns were found, indicating the presence of polymorphisms. The polymorphic fragments were sequenced and analyzed. CRADD was the most interesting gene, because many PCR-SSCP patterns were found in the samples. The results will be tested in another Italian Large White population to verify the segregation and the association of SNPs with phenotypes that influence meat quality.