Genetic variation of camels in the North of Kerman province using microsatellite markers

This study investigated genetic variation within indigenous Camelus dromedarius in north of Kerman province using five microsatellite markers (VOLP03, VOLP08, YWLL08, YWLL38 and CVR01). The blood samples were collected from 81 camels of Shahr Babak, Rafsanjan and Ravar (5 populations). Phenol - chloroform extraction method was used to isolate the DNA. The highest and the lowest allele number and effective alleles are shown in YWLL08 (14 and 10.54) and CVR01 (5 and 4.35), respectively. The expected heterozygosity varied from 0.9108 (YWLL08) to 0.7754 (CVR01). The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) test showed that all loci deviated from HWE (P<0.05). Polymorphism information content ranged from 0.7801 to 0.9165. Fixation index (FST) values for markers YWLL08, VOLP03, VOLP08, YWLL38 and CVR01 was obtained respectively 0.036, 0.089, 0.073, 0.046, 0.054 and 0.056 that indicates the distinction is too much between the populations. The results of the current study indicated that the Camelus dromedarius in the North of Kerman province populations have a relativity high genetic variation, which makes them compatible to drastic environmental changes existing in Kerman province. Therefore, it is essential to maintain this genetic diversity and this valuable animal.