Geographic structure in goat diversity as revealed by AFLP molecular markers.

We investigated the genetic variation in domestic goats (Capra hircus) and compared the geographic and genetic diversity in this species on a large scale (world-wide) and on a local scale (Italian Alps). A total of 392 domestic goats belonging to 16 populations from Turkey, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Italy and Switzerland were analysed with 118 AFLP markers. A high correlation between genetic and geographic distance (r=0.75; Pless than or equal to 0.01) was observed on a worldwide scale. AFLP data were in contrast with mitochondrial DNA data that showed weak geographic structure in goats. We hypothesized that in the process of breed formation, local wild and domesticated males significantly contributed their genomes to the geographic partition and present characteristics of the local breeds.