Use of RAPD Markers Technique to Evaluate Genetic Variation in Two Types of Local Ducks

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the genetic variation between two local Iraqi (white and grey) ducks by RAPD-PCR technique using five random primers. The total number of bands that shown by the primers (APO-08, APOF-O9, APO-10, APO-16, APO-18) was 63, 53, 79, 81, 68 for local white ducks, while it was 62, 61, 66, 69, 58 for the local gray ducks respectively. Additionally, all primers showed 59 common bands. OPA-08 primer showed the highest number of common bands (22) while APF-09 primer resulted the lowest number of common bands (4 bands). The overall number of specific bands in local white ducks were higher than those of local grey ducks (285 and 257 bands, respectively). The average of similarity ratio between local ducks was (35.76) while individually, APO-08 primer showed the highest similarity ratio (70.4%) comparing with the lowest similarity percentage (14.04%) that represented by OPF-09 primer.