Genetic Diversity of Three Native Goat Populations Raised in the South-Eastern Region of Turkey.

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic variability of three goat populations raised in the Southeastern region of Turkey by using microsatellite loci defined in gazelle (Gazella granti). DNA was isolated from 120 blood samples collected from goats raised in Sanliurfa (n = 40), Kilis (n = 40) and Siirt (n = 40) provinces. Eight microsatellite loci (33HDZ8, 33HDZ290, 33HDZ433, 33HDZ496, 33HDZ593, 33HDZ692, 33HDZ749, 33HDZ974) were used for amplification with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fragment lengths of the amplifed loci were analysed using a capillary electrophoresis system. Six of the eight loci (75%) were successfully amplified and four (66.7%) of them were polymorphic. Three of the polymorphic loci (33HDZ496, 33HDZ749 ve 33HDZ974) were used for estimating genetic parameters. A total of 40 alleles were detected. Number of alleles and polymorphism information contents (PlC) for the loci 33HDZ496, 33HDZ749 and 33HDZ974 were 13, 15 and 12 and 0.836, 0.821 and 0.817, respectively. The mean number of alleles was 10.33±1.15, 10.67±2.08 and 11.33±0.58 and effective number of alleles was 6.131±1.42, 5.823±0.23 and 5.870±0.75 for Sanliurfa, Kilisand Siirt populations, respectively. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities for Sanliurfa, Kilis and Siirt populations were 0.827±0.083, 0.808±0.044 and 0.895±0.069 as well as 0.843±0.043, 0.841±0.007 and 0.838±0.023 respectively. For the 33HDZ496, 33HDZ749 and 33HDZ974 loci FIS values were 0.0164, 0.0245 and 0.0240, respectively. The FST values (0.009) showed that about 99% of the genetic variation was due to variation among individuals.The results have suggested that the three populations studied have a high genetic variability and the loci, 33HDZ496, 33HDZ749, 33HDZ974, can be used as markers due to their high number of alleles (≥12) and PlC (>0.81) values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]