Population structure in Indian sheep ascertained using microsatellite information

This study attempts to provide a comprehensive insight into the prevailing genetic status of Indian sheep breeds using microsatellite markers. Seventeen Indian sheep breeds from 3 agroecological zones were analysed using a panel of 25 microsatellite markers. All of the sheep breeds investigated were genetically diverse, as evident from the high allele (>6) and gene (>0.6) diversity values. The gene diversity values for all breeds ranged from 0.621 to 0.780. The within-population heterozygote deficit (F(IS)) varied from -0.098 to 0.234, reflecting significant levels for 12 of the 17 breeds investigated. The average genetic differentiation between all breeds (F(ST)) was 11.1%, revealing moderate discrimination between the indigenous sheep breeds. The genetic distance and principal component analysis revealed a separation of sheep breeds based on geographical propinquity. The Bayesian clustering approach suggested poor breed differentiation in the north-western arid and semi-arid region when compared to the breeds from the eastern and southern peninsular regions. The observed results mirror the divergent management strategies in the different agroecological regions, lack of specific selection policies, and intermixing of breeds in close proximity. Immediate steps to curb the intermixing and erosion of breed purity for some of these breeds need to be implemented, for example, by introducing measures like making proven rams available and ensuring their frequent exchange between flocks. The data generated here provides valuable information about the genetic structure of the 17 Indian sheep breeds and this can be used for designating priorities for their conservation.     

Assessment of the population structure of five Finnish dog breeds with microsatellites

Genetic variabilities within and between Finnish populations of Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Wirehaired Dachshunds, Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Bedlington Terriers were quantified with microsatellite allele numbers, observed heterozygosities, expected heterozygosities, FIS estimates, FST estimates and DS distances. In a sample of 50 individuals from each, breed and ten polymorphic loci, the highest genetic diversity was exhibited in the Wirehaired Dachshunds and lowest in the Bedlington Terriers. Although statistically significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium were observed, they occurred at an unexpectedly low frequency. Most strikingly, the extremely small Bedlington Terrier population displayed genotypes in H-W proportions in all investigated loci. The H-W deviations always occurred with positive FIS estimates, which, on average, were not larger than values reported for free-living canids. Genetic differentiation between the breeds was very large. As a comparison, present estimates were, on average, over two times higher than previously observed between breeds of sheep, and over two times higher than the highest estimates reported between human populations. Moreover, the highest DS distances were only slightly lower than the lowest values inferred between humans and chimpanzees. Severe bottlenecks in the recent past of the examined breeds were not statistically supported. The presented data imply genetic isolation and intense artificial selection in the history of these breeds of dogs.     

Microsatellite analysis revealed genetic diversity and population structure among Chinese cashmere goats

Most cashmere goats are found in northern China and Mongolia. They are regarded as precious resources for their production of high quality natural fibre for the textile industry. It was the first time that the genetic diversity and population structure of nine Chinese cashmere populations has been assessed using 14 ISAG/FAO microsatellite markers. In addition, two Iranian populations and one West African goat population were genotyped for comparison. Results indicated that the genetic diversity of Chinese cashmere goats was rich, but less than those of the Iranian goat populations. All pairwise F_ST values between the Chinese cashmere goat populations reached a highly significant level (P < 0.001), suggesting that they should all be considered as separate breeds. Finally, clustering analysis divided Chinese cashmere goats into at least two clusters, with the Tibetan Hegu goats alone in one cluster. An extensive admixture was detected among the Chinese goat breeds (except the Hegu), which have important implications for breeding management.     

Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of Chinese yak breeds （Bos grunniens） using microsatellite markers

Nine Chinese yak breeds (Maiwa,Tianzhu White,Qinghai Plateau,Sibu,Zhongdian,Pall,Tibetan High Mountain,Jiulong,and Xin-jiang) and Gayal were analyzed by means of 16 microsatellite markers to determine the level of genetic variation within populations,genetic relationship between populations,and population structure for each breed.A total of 206 microsatellite alleles were observed.Mean F-statistics (0.056) for 9 yak breeds indicated that 94.4% of the genetic variation was observed within yak breeds and 5.6% of the genetic variation existed amongst breeds.The Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic free was constructed based on Nei's standard genetic dis-tances and two clusters were obtained.The Gayal separated from the yaks far away and formed one cluster and 9 yak breeds were grouped together.The analysis of population structure for 9 yak breeds and the Gayal showed that they resulted in four clusters; one clus-ter includes yaks from Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province,one cluster combines Zhongdian,Maiwa,and Tianzhu White,and Jiulong and Xinjiang come into the third cluster.Pali was mainly in the first cluster (90%),Jiulong was mainly in the second cluster (87.1%),Zhongdian was primarily in the third cluster (83%),and the other yak breeds were distributed in two to three clusters.The Gayal was positively left in the fourth cluster (99.3%).     

Population differences in levels of linkage disequilibrium in the wild

Information about the levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in wild animal populations is still limited, and this is true particularly with respect to possible interpopulation variation in the levels of LD. We compared the levels and extent of LD at the genome‐wide scale in three Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus) populations, two of which (Kuusamo and Ylläs) represented outbred populations within the main distribution area of the species, whereas the third (Suupohja) was a semi‐isolated, partially inbred population at the margin of the species’ distribution area. Although extensive long‐range LD (>20 cM) was observed in all three populations, LD generally decayed to background levels at a distance of 1–5 cM or c. 200–600 kb. The degree and extent of LD differed markedly between populations but aligned closely with both observed levels of within‐population genetic variation and expectations based on population history. The levels of LD were highest in the most inbred population with strong population substructure (Suupohja), compared with the two outbred populations. Furthermore, the decay of LD with increasing distance was slower in Suupohja, compared with the other two populations. By demonstrating that levels of LD can vary greatly over relatively short geographical distances within a species, these results suggest that prospects for association mapping differ from population to population. In this example, the prospects are best in the Suupohja population, given that minimized marker genotyping and a minimum marker spacing of 1–5 cM (c. 200–600 kb) would be sufficient for a whole genome scan for detecting QTL.     

An experimental evaluation with Drosophila melanogaster of a novel dynamic system for the management of subdivided populations in conservation programs

A dynamic method (DM) recently proposed for the management of captive subdivided populations was evaluated using the pilot species Drosophila melanogaster. By accounting for the particular genetic population structure, the DM determines the optimal mating pairs, their contributions to progeny and the migration pattern that minimize the overall coancestry in the population with a control of inbreeding levels. After a pre-management period such that one of the four subpopulations had higher inbreeding and differentiation than the others, three management methods were compared for 10 generations over three replicates: (1) isolated subpopulations (IS), (2) one-migrant-per-generation rule (OMPG), (3) DM aimed to produce the same or lower inbreeding coefficient than OMPG. The DM produced the lowest coancestry and equal or lower inbreeding than the OMPG method throughout the experiment. The initially lower fitness and lower variation for nine microsatellite loci of the highly inbred subpopulation were restored more quickly with the DM than with the OMPG method. We provide, therefore, an empirical illustration of the usefulness of the DM as a conservation protocol for captive subdivided populations when pedigree information is available (or can be deduced) and manipulation of breeding pairs is possible.     

Development and Characterization of 15 Polymorphic Micro satellite Markers for a Highly Adaptive and Wide-range Frog （Microhyla fissipes）

In order to analyze population genetic structure at multiple spatial scales, microsatellite loci were developed for the ornamented pygmy flog （Microhylafissipes）, and 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci were successfully screened from 105 individuals, of which 82 from four populations distributed in the Sichuan Basin and 23 from the Sangzhi population in western Hunan. Five loci were found to deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in one to three popu lations, probably due to small sample size or null alleles. The average number of alleles in all loci was 8.5, ranging from 4 to 13, and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.26 to 0.90 and 0.63 to 0.90, respectively. The Sangzhi population and the remaining four populations can be clearly separated using Bayesian clustering methods, showing that the genetic structure of M. fissipes was probably affected by the topography, especially mountain barriers. These polymorphic microsatellite loci could be used for further study on the landscape genetics of this highly adaptive and widely distributed species.     

Clonal diversity,clonal persistence and rapid taxon replacement in natural populations of species and hybrids of the Daphnia longispina complex

Hybridization is common among cyclical parthenogens, especially in zooplankton species assemblages of the genus Daphnia. To explore hybridization dynamics and the extent of clonal diversity in the Daphnia longispina complex, we analysed population structure in eight permanent lakes. Based on 15 microsatellite loci, three major taxonomic units emerged: two species, D. galeata and D. longispina and their F1 hybrids, supported by factorial correspondence analysis and two Bayesian methods. At the same time, the detection of backcross classes differed between methods. Mean clonal diversity was lowest in the F1 hybrids, as expected from the high rate of asexual reproduction. Within taxa, replicated genotypes were of clonal origin, but clonal lineages persisted in subsequent years in only one of three resampled lakes. In another lake, the taxon composition changed from being dominated by hybrids to complete dominance by one parental taxon. Such a year‐to‐year taxon replacement has not been reported for the D. longispina complex before. Our data on this hybrid complex illustrate that high‐resolution genotyping is essential for the understanding of ecological and evolutionary outcomes of hybridization in partially clonal taxa.     

虹鳟6个养殖群体遗传多样性的微卫星分析

利用14对微卫星分子标记对虹鳟的6个养殖群体进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明：6个群体的平均等位基因数A为 2.89～4.22,平均有效等位基因数Ne 为2.15～2.78,平均观察杂合度Ho 为0.4801～0.6786,平均期望杂合度He 为0.5052～0.6211,平均多态信息含量PIC 为0.4298～0.5762;其中渤海站群体的等位基因数最多、多态信息含量最高,有效种群最大,通过基因型的P值发现6个群体只在位点AF375034符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,在其他位点都不同程度的偏离平衡,同时对6个群体的遗传距离进行了估算,聚类分析发现挪威群体与其他群体遗传距离最远。     

乌骨鸡蛋用系群体遗传结构的微卫星标记分析

用20对微卫星引物对丝羽乌骨鸡BM、BF两个蛋用新品系的基因组DNA进行扩增,应用多重PCR结合全自动电泳技术分析群体遗传结构。试验结果表明：18个微卫星标记表现出丰富的多态性,每个标记平均检测到7.444个等位基因（3～15个）,平均观测杂合度为0.3962,平均预期杂合度为0.7301,平均多态信息含量为0.669。本研究的标记检测结果比以前的研究报道值要高,说明全自动电泳分析技术比聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳结合银染法检测电泳结果的传统方法要精确,能更好地用于群体遗传结构的分析。      

利用30个微卫星标记分析长江中下游鲢群体的遗传多样性

摘要: 利用30对微卫星分子标记对长江中下游5个鲢群体进行了遗传多样性分析。结果表明: 在30个基因座中, 共检测到144个等位基因, 每个座位检测到的等位基因数为1～10个, 其中有25个座位具有多态性, 多态位点百分率为83.33,5个群体的平均等位基因数A为4.0/4.1, 平均有效等位基因数Ne为2.4445～2.6332, 平均观察杂合度Ho为0.3233～0.3511, 平均期望杂合度He为0.4421～0.4704, 平均多态信息含量PIC为0.4068～0.4286。对数据进行F-检验, Fst值表明群体间的遗传分化程度中等, 并对基因型进行了基于Hardy-Weinberg平衡的卡方检验, 所得P值说明5个群体均一定程度上偏离了平衡。5个群体间的遗传相似系数为0.8466～0.9146,遗传距离为0.0893～0.1665, 并根据Nei氏标准遗传距离用UPGMA方法对5个鲢群体进行亲缘关系聚类。     

中国北方六省区胡桃的遗传多样性和群体结构

胡桃(Juglans regia)是重要的木本经济作物, 在我国北方广泛栽培。然而, 目前缺乏对北方地区胡桃的遗传多样性和群体结构的全面认识, 限制了胡桃资源的保护和利用。本研究以北方六省区的19个群体的491份胡桃样本为对象, 基于31对多态性微卫星引物的基因分型数据, 分析其遗传多样性、遗传分化和群体结构。遗传多样性估算结果表明胡桃群体遗传多样性较低(N_A = 2.620, H_O = 0.368, H_E = 0.368), 遗传变异主要分布于群体内(84%), 群体间的遗传分化较低(F_ST = 0.16), 这可能与该地区胡桃是人为引入栽培、长期人工选择和扩散等有关。遗传结构分析发现胡桃包含东、西两个组, 其中青海海南州的一个群体构成一组, 其余省份的群体为另外一组, 组间具有较高水平的遗传分化(F_ST = 0.32), 但两个组交汇区的群体有基因渐渗的信号, 这种遗传格局可能由栽培历史和局域环境所塑造。基于上述结果, 我们建议对青海海南州和甘肃天水市的两个群体进行优先保护。本研究明晰了北方六省区胡桃的遗传多样性和群体结构, 提出胡桃遗传资源的保护策略, 有望为胡桃种质资源的利用提供科学依据。