Genomic characterization of the italian wolf (Canis lupus): the genes involved in black coat colour determination and application of microarray technique for snps detection.

This study provides a comprehensive genetic overview on the endangered Italian wolf population. In particular, it focuses on two research lines. On one hand, we focalised on melanism in wolf in order to isolate a mutation related with black coat colour in canids. With several reported black individuals (an exception at European level), the Italian wolf population constituted a challenging research field posing many unanswered questions. As found in North American wolf, we reported that melanism in the Italian population is caused by a different melanocortin pathway component, the K locus, in which a beta-defensin protein acts as an alternative ligand for the Mc1r. This research project was conducted in collaboration with Prof. Gregory Barsh, Department of Genetics and Paediatrics, Stanford University. On the other hand, we performed analysis on a high number of SNPs thanks to a customized Canine microarray useful to integrate or substitute the STR markers for genotyping individuals and detecting wolf-dog hybrids. Thanks to DNA microchip technology, we obtained an impressive amount of genetic data which provides a solid base for future functional genomic studies. This study was undertaken in collaboration with Prof. Robert K. Wayne, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Grantor dc:publisher

Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna

Year dc:date

2009

Author dc:creator

• Greco, Claudia <1976>

Contributors dc:contributor

• Randi, Ettore

• BIO/05 Zoologia

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

urn:nbn:it:unibo-1427

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:amsdottorato.cib.unibo.it:1729