Investigation of Polymorphism of Some Microsatellite Markers in Baluchi Sheep Population

Due to the importance of conservation and preserving indigenous breeds, Baluchi sheep as the most populous breed of Iranian sheep with reliable pedigree was selected. In this study genetic variations were analyzed with 15 microsatellites markers (BM737, BM1815, BMS332, BMS995, BMS2721, KD101, LSCV36, LSCV38, McM63, McM139, McM214, McMA1, McMA10, OarVH110, TGLA231) in a population of Baluchi sheep. Whole blood samples were randomly collected from 140 sheep at Abbas Abad Breeding Station (Mashhad). After PCR reactions, McM139 locus wasn't amplified and LSCV38 locus was ignored for many null Alleles. Thirteen microsatellites loci were %100 polymorphic. Number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity, polymorphic information content (PIC) and Shannon index were calculated. Highest and lowest allele numbers was observed in OarVH110 locus with 12 alleles and 6 alleles in BM737, BMS332, McMA10, respectively. Effective number of allele was between 3.51 (LSCV36) to 8.66 (OarVH110). The highest and the lowest heterozygosity belonged to 0.89 (OarVH110) and 0.71 (LSCV36), respectively. OarVH110 locus indicated the highest PIC (0.873) and LSCV36 locus indicated the lowest PIC (0.669). The highest and lowest Shannon index were belonged to 2.21 (OarVH110) and 0.66 (LSCV36), respectively. These results verify high efficiency of microsatellites marker for screening of population's structure in Iranian native sheep and in future study for QTL mapping. So, presence of new alleles and allele range indicates difference between Baluchi sheep population structure with foreign Sheep breeds.