GENETIC-VARIATION AT THE GROWTH-HORMONE LOCUS IN A WILD PIG INTERCROSS - TEST OF ASSOCIATION TO PHENOTYPIC TRAITS AND LINKAGE TO THE BLOOD-GROUP-D LOCUS

A polymorphism in the TATA-box of the porcine growth hormone (GH) gene was analysed in a wild pig/large White intercross, in which 129 marke rs had been scored previously, Linkage analyses demonstrated that the GH locus belonged to a linkage group on chromosome 12 together with a previously unassigned marker, the erythrocyte antigen D (EAD) locus. T he linear order of this linkage group is D-GH-S0096-S0090-S0106-arachi donate12-lipoxygenase (ALOX12)-inhibin beta A (INHBA), The length of t he linkage group was estimated at 93 cM (sex average). The effects of the GH genotype on growth and fat deposition traits were investigated using phenotypic data from the 191 F-2 animals, No significant effect of GH was detected, and we therefore conclude that this locus does not play a major role in defining the genetic differences between the wil d and Large White pigs for these traits.