Date of Graduation

5-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Biological Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Rhoads, Douglas D.

Committee Member

McNabb, David S.

Second Committee Member

Thallapuranam, Suresh

Keywords

Biological sciences; Chickens; Sperm mobility

Abstract

This project is focused on determining the contributions of particular genetic loci to low sperm mobility in the chicken. Sperm mobility has been shown to be a major determinant of male fertility in broiler breeders. A whole genome SNP scan identified chromosomal regions (QTLs) that control sperm mobility. I used microsatellites from 4 chromosomal regions ( 15.151 on chromosome 6, 12.435 on chromosome Z, 12.341 on chromosome Z, and 17.214 on chromosome Z) to determine the association of these regions with sperm mobility in experimental lines divergently selected for mobility phenotype. Determination of the genetics underlying sperm mobility will identify the genetics of one of the major determinants of male fertility in commercial broiler males.

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