assessment association between capn3 and adrb3 genes polymorphism and estimated breeding values (ebvs) of

the current study was designed to estimate the frequency of capn3 and adrb3 genes single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) and investigate if their polymorphisms have association with estimated breeding values (ebvs) of growth traits in baluchi sheep. phenotypic information about several sheep growth traits on 102 purebred baluchi sheep was collected. association effects of the variants of capn3 and adrb3 genes on the growth traits were examined. three conformational patterns were identified for capn3 but the adrb3 gene was not polymorphic in our experimental population using pcr–sscp analysis. analysis of variance using the capn3 snp as the independent variable and ebvs as dependent variable showed that the capn3 genotypes were associated with additive ebvs for weight at birth (p < 0.05) but no association of the capn3 genotypes with the other examined traits ebvs were found. genotype bb had a superior birth weight when compared to those of individuals with other genotypes. findings of this research suggest that polymorphisms in the capn3 gene might be one of the important genetic factors that influence growth traits and maybe explain partial source of genetic variation. the polymorphism may also be useful in marker-assisted selection for bw.