title: Effect ofpre-miRNA-1658gene polymorphism on chicken growth and carcass traits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polymorphisms occurring in the precursor region of microRNAs (miRNAs) affect the target gene and alter the biogenesis of miRNAs, resulting in phenotypic variation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the genetic effects of rs16681031 (C>G) mutation in the precursor region ofgga-miR-1658on the economic traits of the Gushi-Anka chicken F2 resource population.
  
  
  METHODS
  To explore the effect ofmiR-1658polymorphisms on chicken economic traits, the SNP was genotyped by MassArray matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. The association between the SNP and chicken body size, growth and carcass traits was determined by linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SNP was not only significantly associated with body weight at the age of 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks, respectively, but also with the breadth of the chicken chest, body slanting length and pelvic breadth at 4 weeks, chest depth at 8 weeks of age, and body slanting length at 12 weeks (p<0.05), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data serve as a useful resource for further analysis of miRNA function, and represent a molecular genetic basis for poultry breeding.
authors: Institute of Agricultural and Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan 473061, China.
authors: Jianzhou
authors: J
authors: Shi
authors: College of Livestock Husbandry and Veterinary Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
authors: Guirong
authors: G
authors: Sun
keywords: Carcass Traits; Growth Traits; MassArray Analysis; Polymorphism; Pre-miRNA-1658