Genetic Variation among Zandi Sheep Population Using Microsatellite Markers

In this study, the genetic variation in Zandi sheep was investigated using 15 microsatellite markers. Genomic DNA was extracted from 120 Blood samples, using modified salting-out method. All of fifteen loci were amplified successfully and all tested loci were all polymorphic. The Tests of genotype frequencies for deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were performed at each locus and revealed significant departure from HWE (P<0.001) due to heterozygote excess.Parameters of variability such as effective number of alleles and gene diversities (Heterozygosity) corroborated the high level of variation frequently displayed by microsatellite markers. Furthermore, other criteria of genetic variation including PIC values and Shanon information index had calculated in this study. The mean of polymorphism information content of the Zandi sheep population was equal to 0.808 and indicate high level of polymorphism. Also the Shannon's information index of the Zandi sheep population was high (1.92 ± 0.09). Based on results of this research, high level of genetic diversity was observed in Zandi breed. This research also was shown that microsatellite markers is a useful tool for evaluation of genetic variation among of domesticated animals.