Detection of four porcine Y-specific markers by RAPD

Population structure in the endangered Blanca Cacereña bovine breed demonstrated by RAPD analyses

RAPD analyses have been used to determine the genetic diversity and the population structure of the endangered Blanca Cacereña bovine breed. Genetic variability was evaluated on the basis of 1048 loci produced by 71 primers. RAPD produced a number of polymorphic loci (30.44%), and it has been proved to be a useful method for evaluating polymorphisms in this breed. The dendrograms based on simililarity indexes and on Nei's genetic distances between 60 animals and the value of genetic differentiation among subpopulations (F(ST)) showed a clear population substructure defined by herds and a scarce genetic flow among herds. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 32.4% of the total variance was due to differences among herds and confirmed the clustering found. The results of the present study allow us to plan more adequate mating in order to maintain the genetic diversity and to improve the efficiency of conservation for the Blanca Cacereña bovine breed.

Characterization of Iberian pig genotypes using AFLP markers

The use of the AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) technique for the characterization of highly inbred Iberian pig breed genotypes and the detection of strain-specific polymorphisms is demonstrated. Twelve different primer combinations were used on individual DNA samples from animals belonging to two black hairless Iberian pig strains, Guadyerbas and Coronado. These amplification reactions allowed the detection of more than 1700 amplification products of which 26 were identified as strain-specific markers, present in all individuals of one strain and absent in the other. Comparison of male and female amplification products within one strain also allowed the identification of 8 male-specific amplified bands. AFLP showed a great power of marker detection due to a high multiplex ratio and high reproducibility. Comparison of similarity and co-ancestry coefficient matrices also showed the usefulness of AFLP markers to estimate genetic relationships between individuals pigs.