Coat colour genes in diversity studies

In this paper we describe the use of polymorphic genes affecting coat colour as a tool in diversity studies of domestic animals. Although phenotypic data has been the main criteria for establishing different breeds, calculation of genetic distances between breeds is normally performed using noncoding microsatellite markers. As anticipated, MC1‐R (melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor) allele frequencies vary greatly between cattle breeds expressing different coat colours. In multicoloured breeds, like Icelandic cattle, a high frequency of the E⁺ allele appears to be essential for colour variation. Whereas black breeds have a high frequency of the dominant acting allele E^D, entirely red breeds have no E^D. Animals being homozygous for the defective allele e occurred frequently in some cattle breeds, indicating that the MC1‐R does not have crucial impact on animal physiology other than coat colour. The E⁺ and e alleles were observed in the closely related river buffalo as well. None of the breeds included in this study express the roan phenotype. Consequently, they were monomorphic at the MGF locus. As for the MC1‐R locus, a correlation to colour pattern was observed for two c‐kit alleles as well, confirming that selection of specific phenotypes strongly affect the allelic variation of underlying loci. Information on genes affecting the phenotype is therefore well suited for describing different breeds of livestock and, consequently, a practical tool in breed conservation.