Assessment and Genetic Characterization of Iranian Two-Humped Camel Using New World Camelidae Microsatellite Primers

In Iran camels are providers of milk، meat، fibers، sports and capital. This work was carried out to document the structure and assess the genetic diversity within Iranian two-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus). Using of 85 reproductive individuals belonging to four sampling locations of bactrian camels in Ardabil province، Nine microsatellite markers (CVRL07، CVRL01، CVRL05، CMS9، CMS15، VOLP10، LCA66، YWLL38 and YWLL59) were analyzed to assess polymorphism in this population. DNA extraction was conducted with optimized and modified salting-out method. The polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for 85 individuals were successfully done with all primers and then amplification products were resolved on 8% SDS PAGE and stained with silver nitrate. Eight of these markers were polymorphic، producing a total of 31 alleles. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) occurred for all loci (P<0. 005). Polymorphism ratio (P) for nine microsatellite primers in this study calculated 88. 89%. Average allelic and polymorphism information content (PIC) for all loci estimated 3. 4444 and 0. 4726، respectively. The average expected heterozygosity excluding monomorph locus calculated 0. 5242 and ranged 0. 3869 to 0. 7665. A phylogenetic analysis showed that Iranian bactrian camels can be divided into two main groups including many subgroups with some remote individuals. Hence the Iranian two-humped camels population have acceptable genetic diversity yet and can preserve of this valuable genetic resources from extinct with a proper management and breeding programs in Iran.