Abstract. Title of the paper: Association of polymorphisms in the promotor region of porcine HSP70.2-gene of boars to litter size
Heat shock protein genes 70 are candidate genes for the general constitution of farm animals because the physiological function of their proteins in the stress processing. Polymorphisms in the promotor region of the porcine HSP 70.2 gene could be usable as indicators of this function for breeding. This work studied the dispersion of the genotypes of two polymorphisms and their association to the number of living born piglets per litter and to the number of weaned piglets per litter using a material of 169 boars with more than 22000 litters. Differences of the distributions of genotypes and alleles within and between breeds indicate a general importance of these polymorphisms for breeding with pigs. The estimated gene substitutions effects show an improved fertility if the mutated alleles appear in heterozygous genotypes. The substitution effects were however low and could not be secured statistically.