Genetic Diversity among Three Goat Populations Assessed by Microsatellite DNA Markers in Iran

The genomes of three native goat populations were screened by using microsatellite as molecular markers; the populations were Markhoz, Najdi and Tali goats. A total of 13 microsatellite markers were used and genetic diversities and genetic distances were also determined. The thirteen tested loci were all polymorphic in the three goat populations. Within the thirteen polymorphic loci, allele frequencies, number of effective alleles (Ne), heterozygosity (He), polymorphism information content (PIC) and Neiʹs standard genetic distance (D) were calculated and UPGMA phylogenetic tree was constructed based on allele frequencies. The average number of alleles was 7.3, ranging from two to eleven at the thirteen assessed loci. The average values of Ne, He and PIC of all loci were 4.764, 0.759 and 0.720 respectively. The Markhoz population showed the highest variability (PIC=0.767, He=0.799). Tests of genotype frequencies for deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), had been tested in the level of probability (p<0.005). An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) diagram based on Neiʹs standard genetic distances, yielded relationships between populations that agreed with what known about their origin, history and geographical distribution. It was concluded that microsatellite technique is a useful tool for evaluation of genetic variation among of domesticated animals.