Novel SNPs in the OCX-32 Gene and Their Associations with Egg Production Traits in Korean Native Chickens

The ovocalyxin-32 (OCX-32) gene is located chromosome 9 in the chicken, and is known to eggshell formation. In the present study, DNA sequencing method were used to screen genetic variations in the chicken OCX-32 gene. Four Korean native chicken population (n= 160; including 40 females of Ogol, 40 females of black, 40 females of gray and 40 females of white) were tested for egg production traits (egg production ratio, age at first egg, first egg weight, egg weight) and data was analyzed using SAS program. The results revealed eight novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Some of them were significantly associated with egg production ratio (p<0.05) and egg weight (p<0.05) in Korean Ogol chicken. But there was no significant association in Korean black, gray and white chickens. These results suggest the possibility of using molecular markers in OCX-32 gene as a tool for performance and egg production traits in Korean Ogol chicken breeding program.