Estimation of Genetic Variation in Holstein Young Bulls of Iran AI Station Using Molecular Markers

G Rahimi,K Olek,D Saneei,A Nejati-Javaremi

doi:10.5713/ajas.2006.463

Abstract

Genetic profiles of Iranian Holstein young bulls at the national artificial insemination station were determined on the basis of individual genotypes at 13 ISAG's recommended microsatellites, the most useful markers of choice for parentage identification. In the present study a total of 119 individuals were genotyped at 13 microsatellite loci and for possible parent-offspring combinations. A high level of genetic variation was evident within the investigated individuals as assessed from various genetic diversity measures. The mean number of observed alleles per microsatellite marker was 9.15 and the number of effective alleles as usual was less than the observed values (4.03). The average observed and expected heterozygosity values were 0.612 and 0.898, respectively. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) value (0.694) further reflected a high level of genetic variability. The average exclusion of probability (PE) of the 13 markers was 0.520, ranging from 0.389 to 0.788. The combined exclusion of probability was 0.999, when 13 microsatellite loci were used for analysis in the individual identification system. Inbreeding was calculated as the difference between observed and expected heterozygosity. Observed homozygosity was less than expected which reflects inbreeding of -3.7% indicating that there are genetic differences between bull-sires and bull-dams used to produce young bulls. The results obtained from this study demonstrate that the microsatellite DNA markers used in the present DNA typing are useful and sufficient for individual identification and parentage verification without accurate pedigree information. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 4 : 463-467)

Highlights

Discoveries made by Landsteiner in the early 1900’s on human blood group variability, Todd and White on blood groups in farm animals, set the scene for research into immuno-genetics and genetic variability among animals (Hines, 1999)
In the last 10 years or so, the development of new genetic tools has brought about great advances in individual recognition, and DNA markers such as microsatellites have proved to be useful in clarifying population structure (Sasazaki et al, 2004; Yoon et al, 2005)
We evaluated the ISAG’s standards microsatellite paternity markers for estimation the degree of inbreeding and parentage control in Holstein young bulls of RAHIMI ET AL

Summary

Introduction

Discoveries made by Landsteiner in the early 1900’s on human blood group variability, Todd and White on blood groups in farm animals, set the scene for research into immuno-genetics and genetic variability among animals (Hines, 1999). We evaluated the ISAG’s standards microsatellite paternity markers for estimation the degree of inbreeding and parentage control in Holstein young bulls of RAHIMI ET AL. Cervus software (version 2.0) was used to calculate allele frequencies, expected and observed heterozygosities and parentage assessment (Marshall, 2000).

Results

Conclusion