This document discusses the use of genetic markers to characterize livestock breeds for conservation purposes. It explains that livestock breeds represent a valuable genetic resource but many are at risk of extinction. Molecular genetic characterization using DNA markers provides a precise way to measure genetic diversity and relationships between breeds. This can help prioritize breeds for conservation in order to maintain maximum genetic diversity.

1. THE USE OF GENETIC MARKERS IN CHARACTERIZATION OF LIVESTOCK BREEDS

13. Microsatellite gel image

21. Calculating within population diversity with a codominant molecular marker Locus A Locus B Locus E Locus C Locus D M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gel 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 20 30

22. Scoring of genotypes for locus A A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 1 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 1 A 1 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 Gen. 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 Indi. A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 1 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 Gen. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 Indi. A 1 A 1 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 1 A 2 A 2 A 2 A 1 A 2 Gen. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Indi.

23. Calculating within population genetic diversity 0.22 H i 0.46 0.41 0.23 h j = (1 - p 2 - q 2 ) 0.37 q 0.72 q 0.87 q 0.63 p 0.28 p 0.13 p Allele freq. 1 30 1 Total 1 30 1 Total 1 30 1 Total E 2 E 2 E 1 E 2 E 1 E 1 Genotypes E q 2 2pq p 2 Gen. freq. (exp.) 7 8 15 Individuals (no.) P 22 = 0.23 P 12 = 0.27 P 11 = 0.50 Gen. freq. (obs.) B 2 B 2 B 1 B 2 B 1 B 1 Genotypes B q 2 2pq p 2 Gen. freq. (exp.) 20 3 7 Individuals (no.) P 22 = 0.67 P 12 = 0.10 P 11 = 0.23 Gen. freq. (obs.) P 22 = 0.80 P 12 = 0.13 P 11 = 0.07 Gen. freq. (obs.) Data analysis Locus 2 p 2 A 1 A 1 24 4 Individuals (no.) q 2 2pq Gen. freq. (exp.) A 2 A 2 A 1 A 2 Genotypes A

34. Fig 1: Phylogenetic tree for five OTUs (a) Unscaled branches (b) Scaled branches

35. Fig 2: (a) Rooted phylogenetic tree (b) Unrooted phylogenetic tree

41. Fig 3: Stepwise construction of a phylogenetic tree using UPGMA methods

43. Genetic distances between hominoid species Gibbon 0.2172 - Orang-utan 0.2170 0.1882 - Gorilla 0.2168 0.1940 0.1134 - Chimpanzee 0.2057 0.1790 0.1083 0.0919 - Human Gibbon Orang-utan Gorilla Chimpanzee Human

44. Fig 4: Phylogenetic trees of four main groups of cattle derived from microsatellite analysis (left) and mitochondrial DNA analysis (right)

45. Example of a phylogenetic tree showing genetic relationships among goat populations