Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of partial control region of mtDNA in Zandi sheep breed

Protecting native animal population as genetic and national reserves is essential for animal breeding programs and increasing production of them.Using genetic sequencing mitochondria genome markers is one of the most practical methods for species identification and determination of phylogenetic relationships among populations and species that are close to each other.The purpose of this study is to investigate the diversity of the HVR-I region of themitochondrial genome in Zandi sheep. For this purpose, blood samples from 25 non-relatives breed Zandi sheep in Khojir station in Tehran was collected. After DNA extraction, amplification of 432 nucleotide fragment of the HVR-I in mitochondrial genome has been done by using the polymerase chain reaction, then succesful amplified samples were sequenced.The results of the analysis of sequenced samples suggested existence of four haplotype and four polymorphic sites in the mentioned gene. The study of homology of consensus sequence various breeds of sheep showed that established polymorphism in position 13 probably is specific to zandi sheep. The study of nucleotide diversity showed lower nucleotide diversity in Zandi sheep comparing to Moghani sheep and Balochi sheep. Moreover, the results of phylogenetic analysis that was drawn to determine the position of Zandi sheep among the other breeds of sheep showed that Zandi sheep belongs to haplogroup of A. Also comparing of The HVR-I sequences of Zandi sheep to the sheeps belonging to the haplotype A, showed that this breed has the lowest genetic distance with Baluchi moghani and afshari sheep breed, but it has considerable genetic distance with the reference sequence of A haplotype.