Abstract :
Despite their economical importance, relatively few molecular studies have been made
on goats compared to other livestock species. The most recent goat map was published in
1998, and lacks complete genome coverage. A large number of discrepancies and especially
inter-chromosomal re-assignments were reported between the 1998 goat linkage map and
the sheep map. In this study 94 microsatellite markers were amplified in 12 half-sib South
African Angora goat families for compilation of a genetic map, aiming to confirm or reject
previously reported rearrangements and to improve the alignment between the ovine and
caprine maps. The number of informative meiosis per marker ranged from 69 to 836, with
an average of 518. The microsatellites were mapped to 23 chromosomes, spanning 1352cM
and resulting in an average marker interval of 23.0 cM. Marker orders were compared to
the previously published goat maps, as well as to the ovine map. Six chromosomes (CHI 2,
4, 5, 11, 13 and 19) showed rearrangements in marker order compared to the 1998 Schibler
et al. goat map, while nine previously unmapped markers were conclusively assigned to
eight chromosomes. Four of the previously reported intra-chromosomal rearrangements
between the goat and sheep maps were confirmed to be either population specific or mapping
errors. The verification of rearrangements in loci order will lead to improved alignment
between the two maps, as well as improved efficiency of genome and fine mapping efforts
in goats.
