Microsatellite analysis of genetic variation and structure in Korean and exotic dog breeds

Abstract

The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is one of the best models for investigating patterns of genetic diversity within a subpopulation because they were the first animals to be domesticated and have since been bred to develop a huge range of phenotypes. More than 400 recognized breeds have been developed, and many display inbreeding depression due to selective breeding. Here, we first analyzed the genetic variations in three breeds of dog, namely, Jindo, Poongsan (both Korean breeds), and Labrador Retriever, by using nine microsatellite markers. The highest level of genetic diversity was detected in Jindo, followed by Poongsan and Labrador Retriever. Negative FIS values were found for all three breeds at some microsatellite loci. Next, we compared genetic variation in Korean dog breeds and exotic dog breeds using data produced here and in a previous study. We found that the Korean group had higher value of genetic variation than the exotic group. Our study demonstrated that the microsatellite markers used here are suitable for the analysis of genetic variation and differentiation in dog breeds. The information obtained here will be of value for ensuring genetic diversity and excellence in the different dog breeds.