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Simple Summary: The Carpatina goat breed from Romania is very well adapted to a range of contrasting and very different environments compared to highly specialized breeds. This adaptability makes them an important source of genetic variability for future breeding programs. To improve breeding strategies, it is necessary to evaluate the genetic diversity of the Carpatina breed. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate genetic diversity and inbreeding of old native Carpatina goat populations from different geographical areas in Romania using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 67 individuals. Diversity, measured by average expected heterozygosity (HE), was 0.418, and average observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.420. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) estimation showed that the average r2 value was 0.32. The effective population size (Ne) estimate 13 generations ago ranged between 98 and 185. These results based on SNP data are very useful for the application of proper management and for designing goat breeding programs. Animal husbandry is one of man's oldest occupations. It began with the domestication of animals and developed continuously, in parallel with the evolution of human society. The selection and improvement of goats in Romania was not a clearly defined objective until around 1980. In recent years, with the increasing economic value given to goats, breeding programs are becoming established. In Romania, a few goat genetic studies using microsatellites and mtDNA have been carried out; however, a systematic characterization of the country's goat genomic resources remains missing. In this study, we analyzed the genetic variability of Carpatina goats from four distinct geographical areas (northern, north-eastern, eastern and southern Romania), using the Illumina OvineSNP60 (RefSeq ARS1) high-density chip for 67 goats. Heterozygosity values, inbreeding coefficients and effective population size across all autosomes were calculated for those populations that inhabit high- and low-altitude and high- and low-temperature environments. Diversity, as measured by expected heterozygosity (HE), ranged from 0.413 in the group from a low-temperature environment to 0.420 in the group from a high-temperature environment. Within studied groups, the HT (high temperature) goats were the only group with a positive but low average inbreeding coefficient value, which was 0.009. After quality control (QC) analysis, 46,965 SNPs remained for analysis (MAF < 0.01). LD was calculated for each chromosome separately. The Ne has been declining since the time of domestication, having recently reached 123, 125, 185 and 92 for the HA (high altitude), LA (low altitude), HT (high temperature) and LT (low temperature) group, respectively. Our study revealed a low impact of inbreeding in the Carpatina population, and the Ne trend also indicated a steep decline in the last hundred years. These results will contribute to the genetic improvement of the Carpatina breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate some conformation traits and body indices in two Romanian Gidran stud farms: Tulucești and Cislău. The target of this study is to establish an optimal breeding selection and mating program, which will lead to the modification of the genetic structure in order to increase population performances. The targeted conformation traits were: height at withers, thorax perimeter, and cannon bone circumference. In all cases, the coefficient of variation was low (under 10%) for all studied characters, and this indicates that in the studied horse population a continuous genetic improvement activity has been carried out over several generations. Comparing the thorax perimeter value of Romanian Gidran mares (184.2 cm) with the values reported in Croatian and Hungarian populations, we can conclude that Croatian and Hungarian mare population recorded higher values (190.3 and 192.7 cm). Regarding the height at withers, the mean height in the Romanian population (161.8 cm) was similar with that reported for Croatian population (161.9 cm), Hungarian population (161.7 cm). The cannon bone circumference values were similar: 20.4 cm in Romanian mares, 20.5 cm in Croatian mares and 19.9 cm in Hungarian mares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyse the Gidran horse population from Cislău stud farm, Buzău, Romania. Our study is focused on estabilishing an optimal breeding selection and mating program, which will lead to the modification of the genetic structure and to increase population performances. Our objectives aimed some traits of conformation, constitution and performance for a period of 3 years. The targeted conformation and performance traits were: waist, thorax perimeter, shin perimeter and energetic capacity. After processing the raw data, the analysis showed that the coefficient of variation was low for all studied parameters. This indicates that in the studied horse population a continuous genetic improvement activity has been carried out over several generations. The performance regarding the energetic capacity in the young population are in obvious progress fom year to year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goats have specific characteristics, as a result of their great adaptability to the environment and food. Considering the association between GH gene polymorphism and the growth traits, the present study aimed to highlight the presence of polymorphisms on exons 2 and 3 of the GH1 gene in Crapatina breed and also the genotype and allele frequencies. Using PCR-RFLP technique were found 3 genotypes in this population: AA (uncut 422 bp fragment), BB (366 bp and 56 bp fragments) and AB (422, 366, and 56 bp fragments). The AA genotype frequency was 7%, 48% for the genotype AB and 45% for genotype BB. Also, in this population gene A appeared with a frequency of 31% and gene B with a frequency of 69%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sheep rearing occupies a traditional place in Romanian animal production. In actual context of promoting sustainable development and need to face the climatic changes, this sector must evolve in an appropriate manner. This study aims to emphasize the characteristics of Turcana breed developmental body traits (full length, withers height, thorax perimeter, body weight, ear length, and tail length), function of the rearing environment, characterized by temperature and rainfall regimen, in North, and East Romania. The climatic data were collected by a 7 years interval, from public reports. We used the program STATISTICA v.8.0 for Windows. The majority of body developmental traits of Turcana sheep (full length -135.20 cm, withers heigth - 83.03 cm, ear length - 13.12 cm, and tail length - 41.96), recorded biggest values in individuals studied in Suceava County, and smallest (full length -127.95 cm, body weigth - 55.75 kg, ear length - 9.35 cm, and tail length - 32.23) in individuals from Brăila County. The biggest body development expressed by analyzed body traits is emphasized in Tircana sheep stocks studied in North Romania, compared to East Romania, except thorax perimeter. Moderate correlations are identified between Turcana sheep full length (R = 0.480), and withers heigth (R = 0.424), environmental temperature, and precipitations in studied areal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tradition of sheep rearing imposes the preservation of both genuine pure traditional breeds and biodiversity. In the context of actual climate change threat, the surviving of these resources may be endangered. Taking into account the history and realities of Tsigai sheep rearing in Romania, ourdays, it is important to allow increasing preoccupation not only to preserve our genuine genetic Tsigai sheep resources, but also to provide conditions for future development, even in accentuated draught conditions. Thus, in particular case of Romania, the preservation of both genuine pure traditional sheep breeds and biodiversity is an important issue to be considered for future generations, with accent to Tsigai sheep breed, due to special robustness of this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to emphasize general aspects concerning bioinformatics object of activity, focusing on definitions, and main areas where this complex issue has uses. Being an interdisciplinary field of science, it involves biology, molecular biology knowledge, as well as computational skills. Mastering techniques specific for bioinformatics, allows researcher to perform large scale comprehensive analysis on a given subject. Bioinformatics has an innovative contribution to identification of deepest insights of the living cells, in the meantime with generating the whole picture of the interesting cell, and for this reason it has to develop in the same rhythm with science fields it is involved. In this respect, the paper also presents the main challenges that bioinformatics must face in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of αS1-casein in goat milk varies in wide limits from an individual to another (0-7.2 g/L) due to the complex genetic polymorphism of this protein. Between the 18 genetic variants (alleles) there are big differences concerning the expression level of this protein in milk (Grosclaude et al., 1987; Mahe et al., 1994; Caroli et al., 2006). The aim of this paper was to report the average values and phenotypical correlations of the qualitative parameters of goat milk (the content of fat, protein, casein, lactose, unfatty dry matter) function of genotypes identified at αS1 - casein locus by the isoelectric focusing technique (IEF). The average values of the analyzed parameters are different function of genotype, the biggest values being recorded in homozygous AA genotype, and the smallest in the homozygous FF genotype. The most numerous positive correlations, intense and significant between the qualitative milk parameters are recorded in homozygous AA genotype. In conclusion, allele A from the CSN1S1 locus, which codifies αS1-casein in goat has advantages in genetic markers assisted selection (MAS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sheep hybrids are of high efficiency due to their carcass traits that demonstrate better commercial traits, compared to their parental breeds. In Romania, the sheep hybridizing is mainly performed in order to obtain individuals with higher meat yield of their carcass. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the fattening performances, traits of the main body components, and carcass conformation in Norwegian White x Turcana young hybrids compared to Turcana young sheep. All studied individuals were fattened for 79 days within two experimental series (2008 and 2009). The estimated statistical parameters are focused on 10 young rams fattened and slaughtered, belonging to both breed structures, considered by entire experiment (both experimental series). The average values and differences between them reflect the superiority of the Norwegian White x Turcana young hybrids compared to Turcana young for all analyzed traits, except gigot length and basin depth. Significant and distinct significant differences in advantage of the hybrids were recorded for the following traits: weight in the end of fattening (slaughtering weight) total gain, average daily gain, warm carcass weight, internal organs weight, large and small carcass length, carcass width, thorax depth and crupper width. We consider that these results demonstrate the presence of the heterosis effect in hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study follows the genetic differences between Romanian silkworm genotypes through RAPD-PCR technique. Four local breeds and four local hybrids were be analyzed by randomly 20 decamer primers (OPERON type). Of the sum of 716 bands 496 were polymorphic. The aim of this study is to point the genetic similarity and phylogenetic relationships among the strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to evaluate the influence of Zinc, administered as food supplement for silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) on the larvae weight, the weight of the serigene gland, cocoon weight, cocoon shell. The research has been carried out on 5 groups of silkworms one control group (Gr.1) and 4 experimental groups (4 groups receiving zinc), consisting of 50 larvae/group. Zinc was administered in doses of 17, 34, 68 and 136 mg kg-1 larvae - Gr.2-Gr.5. The use of Zinc determined a very significant increase of the larvae weight, to group Gr.5 followed by groups Gr.4, Gr.3 and Gr.2 compared to the control group. The use of Zinc positively influenced the mass of the serigene glands, the cocoon weight, cocoon shell. The Zn content of the pupae from the experimental groups was higher compared to the one recorded in the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emphasizing correlations between the main meat production traits inn Norwegian White x Turcana hybrids and Turcana pure breed young sheep studied durIng a fattening experimet developed in a period of two succesive yeaxs (2008 and 2009) was the aim of our experiment. Strong positive correlations were repoited between weight in the beginning of fattening and final weight, weight in the end of the fattening, total gain and average daily gain, weight in the end of the fattening experiment and warm carcass weights, and cold carcass weight (0.972-0.802), in Norwegian White x Turcaiia male hybrid young sheep, and between weight in the beginning of fattening and flnal weight; weight in the end of the fattening, total gain and average daily gain, weight in the end of the fattening experiment and warm carcass weight; and cold carcass weight (0.967-0.774) in Turcana male young sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a fattening experiment developed during two successive years, for a period of 79 days for each year of the experimental period (2008, 2009) wes performed on Norwegian White x Turcana and Turcana male young sheep. Both hybrids and Turcana pure beeed young sheep were maintained in the same conditions, receivcd the same food, and benefit of the same micmclimate factors, during entire fattwung interval. The hybrid Norwegian White xTurcana young sheep recanted superior awrage values in the beginning and in the end of the fattening interval, with 1.72 kg (p>O.O5) and. 3.94 kg (p<&.05)~ respectively, compared to Turcana young sheep. Statistical very significant difl~rences (p