ARMS-PCR as an alternative, cost effective method for detection of FecB genotype in sheep

Authors have standardized and report here a simplified amplification retractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR test as an alternative technique to PCR-RFLP for detection of FecB genotype in sheep. An ARMS-PCR test to detect the FecB mutation in Black Bengal goats has recently been described in the literature. A number of modifications to this technique has been made to simplify and standardize the protocol to use it for sheep DNA, isolated from blood samples on FTA paper. The modifications included reducing the PCR reaction volume to half of original protocol, using a single touchdown annealing temperature and combining two PCR amplicons amplified with different primer pairs (one for each allele of FecB) for each sample prior to loading on the gel. These modifications can make the technique cheaper and more suitable for large scale, rapid FecB genotyping in sheep for use in FecB introgression breeding programmes.