Biodiv Sci ›› 2012, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (2): 199-206.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2012.08159

• Original Papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genetic variability and relationship of 10 Bactrian camel populations revealed by microsatellite markers

Xiaohong He1,2, Xiuli Han1,2, Weijun Guan1,2, Kechuan Tian3, Wenbin Zhang4, Yuehui Ma1,2,*()   

  1. 1 Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193
    2 The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Beijing 100193
    3 Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi 830000
    4 Bactrian Camels Institute of Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia 750300
  • Received:2011-09-09 Accepted:2012-03-27 Online:2012-03-20 Published:2012-04-09
  • Contact: Yuehui Ma

Abstract:

In order to investigate the genetic diversity, genetic relationship, genetic differentiation and possible inbreeding at the molecular level, nine Chinese indigenous Bactrian camel populations and one Mongolian population were sampled and genotyped using 18 microsatellite markers. We did so to provide scientific evidence and technical support for the development of sound policy for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Bactrian camel genetic resources. The results showed that all ten of the Bactrian camel populations had rich genetic diversity with a total of 242 alleles at the 18 loci. The mean number of alleles per locus was 13.44, the average number of effective alleles was 4.18, the mean observed heterozygosity (HO) was 0.5528, and polymorphic information content (PIC) averaged 0.5996. Overall genetic differentiation among the ten populations was highly significant (P < 0.001) with 9.6% of the total genetic variance present among the populations and remaining 90.4% among individuals within the populations. Cluster analysis, principal component analysis and structure analysis all indicated that the ten Bactrian camel populations were separated into two clades: the first included four populations from Xinjiang while the second was made up of the remaining six populations. The genetic differentiation and structuring among the 10 Bactrian camel populations were generally in agreement with the geographic distribution and natural geographic barriers among populations.

Key words: Bactrian camel, microsatellite, genetic diversity, genetic relationship