Journal of Applied Genetics 46(3), 2005, pp. 315-317

A new PCR-RFLP within the domestic pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica) cytochrome b (MTCYB) gene

Andrzej Dybus, Kamila Knapik

Abstract: A total of 244 domestic pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. A 999 bp fragment of the MTCYB gene was amplified. The amplification products were digested with restriction enzymes. PCR-RFLP for MvaI restriction enzyme was observed. Frequencies of alleles were as follows: MTCYB^C - 0.926, MTCYB^G - 0.074. The frequencies of MTCYB/MvaI alleles found in this study for non-homing pigeons considerably deviate from the values found for homing/racing pigeons (allele MTCYB^G occurred only in the non-homing breeds).

Key words: Columba livia, domestic pigeon, MTCYB gene, PCR-RFLP.

Correspondence: A. Dybus, Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, Faculty of Biotechnology and Animal Science, Agriculture University, Doktora Judyma 12, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland, e-mail: a.dybus@biot.ar.szczecin.pl