Abstract
Identification of genetic markers in relation to phenotypic differences is important for local turkey breed identification, Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) is a transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor, which has a fundamental role in the regulation of black (eumelanin) and red (pheomelanin) pigment synthesis. In an attempt to detect and analyze the MC1R gene, also to find the relatedness among three most common colors of turkey (White, Red, and Black) in Sulaimani city of Iraq. A total of 75 turkeys (25 White, 25 Red and 25 Black birds) (6 ± 1 month old) blood samples (3 ml/bird) were collected into 5 ml vacutainer tubes containing the EDTA for DNA extractions, the quantity and quality of DNA were determined by Nanodrop spectrophotometer. The forward (5'-GCTTTGTAGGTGCTGCAGTTGTG-3') and reverse primer (5'-CCATCCATCCTC CTGTCTGT-3') were used to PCR amplify a 1050 bp fragment of the MC1R gene. The results showed that we have successfully detected and amplified the MC1R gene in Sulaimani local Turkeys. The black color Turkeys showed two bands of PCR amplification, that is mean for showing the black color phenotype the birds need the two MC1R gene express themselves on the two locus on the chromosome, while each of red and white phenotype needs only one MC1R gene to show these two phenotypes. In accordance with the dendrogram of the current study, the result revealed that genetic variation and relatedness among turkey of the three feather color of local turkey of distance 15%. The cluster divided the local turkey in to three main groups; the first group includes all birds of red color, the second group was mainly of black birds. On the other hand, the third group was mixture between the three colors. In conclusion, based on the results obtained in this study, there are significant associations between plumage colors and genetic variants of the MC1R gene in local turkey. However, further studies are essential to confirm this conclusion.
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