Plant & Animal Genome V Conference
Town & Country Hotel, San Diego, CA, January 12-16, 1997.
PAG-V: W21 - SHEEP GENE MAPPING WAY DOWN UNDER
W21
SHEEP GENE MAPPING WAY DOWN UNDER
GALLOWAY, SUSAN M.(1), Grant W. Montgomery(1), Allan M. Crawford(1), Tom E. Broad(2), Mike L. Tate(2), Diana F. Hill(2)
1. AgResearch MBU, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
2. AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, P.O. Box 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand
The AgResearch Molecular Biology Unit (Dunedin, New Zealand) was established to map the sheep genome and identify genes involved in agriculturally important traits. The first ovine autosomal genetic linkage map was generated from nine three-generation full-sib pedigrees (AgResearch International Mapping Flock) in 1995 as an international collaboration. The ovine X chromosome linkage map was published in 1996 from data generated from a family structure designed to follow female meiosis, and contains both known genes and microsatellite markers. Linkage mapping has been complemented by the establishment of physical mapping resources including a sheep/hamster somatic cell hybrid panel, an ovine YAC library, fluorescent in situ hybridization and sheep chromosome-specific paints. The unit is now focusing on identification of genes involved in reproduction, and QTL for facial excema, nematode parasite resistance and meat and fibre quality traits. An associated program of sheep models for human disease is studying sheep carrying Battens disease and developing sheep models for cystic fibrosis. The sheep map has been developed with a strong focus on comparative genome analysis using resources from mapping programs in cattle, humans and mice. In addition, the related deer genetic linkage map, developed using an interspecies hybrid cross between Pere Davids deer and red deer, provides a powerful resource for mapping genes and is being used in conjunction with several of the sheep projects.