Molecular Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Dromedaries and Bactrian Camel Using Microsatellite Markers

Dromedary and Bactrian camels are two species of camel in Iran that have ecological adaptation to cold and hot desert area, respectively. They play an important role in the life and food security of nomadic tribes. The present study was conducted to investigate genetic diversity of ۱۸۰ Iranian camels using microsatellite markers. In a panel of ۲۰ microsatellite markers, we observed ۲۱۴ alleles with a mean number of ۱۰.۷ alleles per locus. All loci exhibited PIC values more than ۰.۷. The genetic differentiation values (FST) per locus was different from ۰.۰۱ to ۰.۰۳۹ with an average of ۰.۰۲۱ across all loci. The estimate of genetic differentiation level between all Iranian camel populations in this study was low (FST: ۰.۰۰۸-۰.۰۲۱). High gene flow between populations was also observed. Phylogenetic tree illustrated that the highest genetic distance was between Bactrian and dromedary camel from YaD. However, the results of the present microsatellite analyses showed close genetic relationship in the studied populations. All of the population-locus combinations showed significant deviations (P< ۰.۰۱) from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Keywords:

Genetic conservation , Gene flow , Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium , Phylogenetic tree , شترهای تک کوهانه و دوکوهانه , نشانگرهای ریزماهواره ای , تنوع ژنتیکی , حفاظت ژنتیکی.