Genet. Sel. Evol. 34 (2002) 729-744
DOI: 10.1051/gse:2002032

Genetic relationships among twelve Chinese indigenous goat populations based on microsatellite analysis

Meng-Hua Li^a, Shu-Hong Zhao^a, Ci Bian^b, Hai-Sheng Wang^{a, c}, Hong Wei^d, Bang Liu^a, Mei Yu^a, Bin Fan^a, Shi-Lin Chen^a, Meng-Jin Zhu^a, Shi-Jun Li^a, Tong-An Xiong^a and Kui Li<sup>a

a</sup>  Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Animal Breeding, School of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
^b  Department of Animal Science, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry College, Linzhi 860000, P.R. China
^c  Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, The Public Security Bureau of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
^d  Laboratory Animal Center, Third Military Medical University, Chongqin 400038, P.R. China

(Received 26 October 2001; accepted 4 June 2002)

Abstract
Twelve Chinese indigenous goat populations were genotyped for twenty-six microsatellite markers recommended by the EU Sheep and Goat Biodiversity Project. A total of 452 goats were tested. Seventeen of the 26 microsatellite markers used in this analysis had four or more alleles. The mean expected heterozygosity and the mean observed heterozygosity for the population varied from 0.611 to 0.784 and 0.602 to 0.783 respectively. The mean (0.105) demonstrated that about 89.5% of the total genetic variation was due to the genetic differentiation within each population. A phylogenetic tree based on the Nei (1978) standard genetic distance displayed a remarkable degree of consistency with their different geographical origins and their presumed migration throughout China. The correspondence analysis did not only distinguish population groups, but also confirmed the above results, classifying the important populations contributing to diversity. Additionally, some specific alleles were shown to be important in the construction of the population structure. The study analyzed the recent origins of these populations and contributed to the knowledge and genetic characterization of Chinese indigenous goat populations. In addition, the seventeen microsatellites recommended by the EU Sheep and Goat Biodiversity Project proved to be useful for the biodiversity studies in goat breeds.

Key words: genetic relationship / microsatellite / goat / Chinese indigenous population

Correspondence and reprints: Shu-Hong Zhao
    e-mail: shzhao@mail.hzau.edu.cn

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2002