Screening of InDel variants in PRDM6 , myostatin and IGF2BP1 genes and association analysis with body measurement traits in Malabari and Attappadi black goats.

An insertion/deletion (InDel) polymorphism study of PR/SET domain family 6 ( PRDM6 ), myostatin ( MSTN ) and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 ( IGF2BP1 ) genes was conducted in Malabari and Attappady black goats. An association study of identified InDels and body measurement traits was also performed. Body measurements included body length, chest diameter, chest depth, canon circumference, hip width, and hip height at the hip cross. The body trunk index, the body length index, the canon circumference index, and the chest width index were calculated. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested using a Chi-square test. The observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and polymorphism information content (PIC) were calculated. A significant difference in body measurements was found across breeds, ages, and breed x age interactions. The PRDM6 InDel was also associated with body measurement traits, such as body height, canon circumference and canon circumference index. In both Malabari and Attappadi black MSTN and PRDM6 InDels were in a state of HWE, while IGF2BP1 InDels were not. Indel markers found in the present study may be used for marker-assisted selection of growth traits among goats.