Comprehensive genetic analysis of Iranian camels: Insights from Mitochondrial DNA and Microsatellite Markers for conservation and productivity

Dromedary and Bactrian camels are two species in Iran, each adapted to hot and cold desert areas, respectively. These camels play a crucial role in the livelihood and food security of nomadic tribes. This study explores the genetic diversity of Iranian camels using both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers. A 1052 bp fragment of the cyt-b gene was amplified and sequenced in 120 individuals from four camel populations. The results revealed 30 mutations in Bactrian camels and 9 mutations in dromedaries, leading to nine and six mtDNA haplotypes, respectively. Nucleotide diversity was 0.0015 for dromedaries and 0.0121 for Bactrian camel populations. High haplotype diversity was observed in Bactrian camel populations (0.886±0.145), while low genetic differentiation was found among dromedary populations. Phylogenetic analysis indicated distinct clustering for camelids, underscoring the genetic divergence between the two species. Genetic diversity was also assessed in 180 Iranian camels using microsatellite markers. A panel of 20 microsatellite markers revealed 214 alleles, with a mean of 10.7 alleles per locus. All loci exhibited polymorphic information content (PIC) values greater than 0.7. Genetic differentiation (FST) per locus ranged from 0.01 to 0.039, with an average of 0.021 across all loci. The overall genetic differentiation between all Iranian camel populations was low (FST: 0.008-0.021), and high gene flow between populations was observed. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the highest genetic distance between Bactrian and dromedary camels from Yazd. However, microsatellite analyses revealed a close genetic relationship among the studied populations, with all population-locus combinations significantly deviating (P < 0.01) from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These findings highlight the genetic diversity and gene flow in Iranian camel populations, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation strategies to maintain their genetic health and support their ecological and economic roles.

Comprehensive genetic analysis of Iranian camels: Insights from Mitochondrial DNA and Microsatellite Markers for conservation and productivity Keywords:

Mitochondrial DNA , Microsatellite markers , Bactrian and Dromedary camels , Genetic diversity , Conservation biology