Polymorphism of Keratin-Associated Protein 7 Gene and Its Association With Wool Traits in Rambouillet Sheep

The study investigated the association of polymorphic variants of the KAP 7 gene with wool traits in 100 Rambouillet sheep using SSCP-PCR. Three genotypes (AA, AB, BB) were identified with frequencies of 34%, 27%, and 39%, respectively. The allele frequencies were 0.475 for allele A and 0.525 for allele B. The genotype distribution did not align with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The KAP 7 gene was associated with higher clean wool yield and greasy fleece weight in males, while females showed superior fiber diameter, staple length, and wool count. The BB genotype had the highest staple length and greasy fleece weight, suggesting that the KAP 7 gene could be a potential molecular marker for genetic selection in Rambouillet sheep.