Investigation of Genetic Diversity and Paternity in Kangal White Karaman Rams Using Microsatellite Markers

Summary The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic diversity and test possibility of conducting paternity testing at the DNA level as part of a breeding project of Kangal White Karaman sheep. As a pilot study, blood samples were collected from 13 rams that were used for breeding purposes in two different flocks in which level of inbreeding is proposed to be high. A total of 20 microsatellite markers were used to amplify genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting PCR products were separated by capillary electrophoresis and allele genotypes were determined. A total of 99 different alleles were determined ranging from 1 to 8 at each locus. The observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosities (He) values were ranged from 0.000 to 0.923 and from 0.000 to 0.871, respectively. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values were between 0.000 and 0.818. Total power of exclusion (PE) value was calculated as 0.999975 for twenty loci. Our results suggested that a panel, including the most informative twelve loci provides a total PE value of 0.999828, can be useful for parentage testing in Kangal White Karaman sheep.