Genet. Sel. Evol. 38 (2006) 513-524
DOI: 10.1051/gse:2006018

Genetic relationships among Turkish sheep

Metehan Uzun^a, Beatriz Gutiérrez-Gil^b, Juan-José Arranz^b, Fermín San Primitivo^b, Mustafa Saatci^c, Mehmet Kaya^a and Yolanda Bayón<sup>b

a</sup>  Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36040 Kars, Turkey
^b  Department of Animal Production, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
^c  Department of Animal Science, Kafkas University, 36040 Kars, Turkey

(Received 11 October 2005; accepted 18 April 2006; published online 6 September 2006)

Abstract - Genetic relationships among Turkish sheep breeds were analysed on the basis of 30 microsatellite markers. Phylogenetic analyses based on the estimation of genetic distances revealed the closest relationships for the Akkaraman, Morkaraman and Tuj breeds, which were clearly differentiated from the others in the dendrogram. Our pattern was completely confirmed by results from the Factorial Correspondence Analysis. All the results described analysing either population parameters or individuals revealed a clear separation between the fat-tailed group and the others. These results, based on nuclear DNA, are discussed along with those already reported for these breeds through the investigation of mitochondrial DNA, which had revealed the invaluable significance of the genetic background of these Turkish sheep.

Key words: DNA microsatellites / local sheep breeds / genetic relationships

Correspondence and reprints: yolanda.bayon@unileon.es

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2006