Diversity of the Icelandic goat breed assessed using population data

Abstract

The Icelandic goat breed is a closed population consisting of around 700 animals kept in 45 herds. Several population bottlenecks are known to have occurred and the population has at least twice declined below 100 animals. Here the genetic diversity of the breed was estimated using pedigree information, D-loop sequencing and microsatellite markers. The annual rate of inbreeding was estimated as 3% and the effective population size as 5.1 animals. The effective population size based on molecular markers was estimated in the range of 4.1–8.8 individuals and mtDNA D-loop sequencing identified only three haplotypes. The results presented here show the population to be highly inbred, fragmented and the level of genetic variation among the lowest found in livestock. The results will be an important input into conservation planning for the Icelandic goat.     

Half of 23 Belgian dog breeds has a compromised genetic diversity,as revealed by genealogical and molecular data analysis

The genetic diversity in 23 dog breeds raised in Belgium was investigated using both genealogical analysis and microsatellite markers. Some of these breeds are native breeds, with only small populations maintained. Pedigree and molecular data, obtained from the Belgian kennel club, were used to calculate the inbreeding coefficients, realised effective population size as well as probabilities of gene origin and average observed heterozygosity. Inbreeding coefficients ranged from 0.8 to 44.7% and realised effective population size varied between 3.2 and 829.1, according to the used method and breed. Mean observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.47 to 0.73. Both pedigree and molecular methods reveal low genetic diversity and presence of bottlenecks, especially in native Belgian breeds with small population sizes. Furthermore, principal component analysis on the set of investigated diversity parameters revealed no groups of breeds that could be identified in which similar breeding strategies could be applied to maintain genetic diversity.     

Genetic diversity of Afrikaner cattle in southern Africa

The Afrikaner is an indigenous South African breed of “Sanga” type beef cattle along with breeds such as the Drakensberger and Nguni. Six composite breeds have been developed from crosses with the Afrikaner. Additionally, Afrikaner has been the base from which exotic breeds were established in South Africa through backcrossing. The study examined genetic diversity of Afrikaner cattle by genotyping 1257 animals from 27 herds in different geographic areas of South Africa and Namibia using 11 microsatellite markers. Multiple-locus assignment, performed using the Bayesian clustering algorithm of STRUCTURE, revealed three underlying genotypic groups. These groups were not geographically localized. Across herds and markers, the proportion of unbiased heterozygosity ranged from 0.49 to 0.72 averaging 0.57; mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 3.18 to 7.09, averaging 4.81; and allelic richness ranged from 2.35 to 3.38, averaging 2.67. It is concluded that a low inbreeding level of 2.7% and a moderate to high degree of variation still persists within the Afrikaner cattle breed, despite the recent decline in numbers of animals.     

12个微卫星DNA标记在江口萝卜猪群体中的遗传多样性研究

采用12对微卫星引物对江口萝卜猪群体的遗传多样性进行研究。结果发现12个微卫星位点在江口萝卜猪群体中均具有多态性,平均基因杂合度、多态信息含量和有效等位基因数分别为0.760 1、0.707 9和4.173 7。实验结果表明,江口萝卜猪群体具有较高的遗传多样性,群体内部变异较大,若通过家系育种有较大的选育潜力。     

Rates of inbreeding and genetic adaptation for populations managed as herds in zoos with a rotational mating system or with optimized contribution of parents

This study compares two genetic management scenarios for species kept in herds, such as deer. The simulations were designed so that their results can be extended to a wide range of zoo populations. In the first scenario, the simulated populations of size 3 × 20, 6 × 40 or 20 × 60 (herds × animals in herd) were managed with a rotational mating (RM) scheme in which 10%, 20% or 50% of males were selected for breeding and moved between herds in a circular fashion. The second scenario was based on optimal contribution theory (OC). OC requires an accurate pedigree to calculate kinship; males were selected and assigned numbers of offspring to minimize kinship in the next generation. RM was efficient in restriction of inbreeding and produced results comparable with OC. However, RM can result in genetic adaptation of the population to the zoo environment, in particular when 20% or less males are selected for rotation and selection of animals is not random. Lowest rates of inbreeding were obtained by combining OC with rotation of males as in the RM scheme. RM is easy to implement in practice and does not require pedigree data. When full pedigree is available, OC management is preferable.     

野生天山马鹿哈密种群微卫星遗传多样性

为了解野生天山马鹿哈密种群的微卫星多态性,本文选用5对微卫星标记引物,利用粪便DNA分析法、PCR和复合电泳银染技术,通过计算基因频率（JP）、有效等位基因数（M）、群体杂合度（1te）、多态信息含量（PIC）和遗传距离,对冬季采集的201份天山马鹿粪便进行了研究,评价了其遗传多样性和系统进化分析。结果表明：成功提取I）NA的194份粪便分属140个体;种群平均等位基因4．200±0．837;平均有效等位基因数3．2167±0．0236;平均多态信息含量0．6332±0．0017;平均期望杂合度0．694±0．035;平均观察杂合度0．792±O．063。整个种群没显著偏离Hardy—Weinberg平衡,种群剧定系数Fis为一0．238。从此可见,野生天山马鹿哈密种群具有比较丰富的遗传多样性.     

Effect of culling on selection response using phenotypic selection or best linear unbiased prediction of breeding values in small, closed herds of swine.

Records from 7,200 separate closed herds with either 12 or 25 sows that were mated to either four or eight boars per year were simulated by computer. Effects of selection method, herd size, and contemporary group variability on average genetic change, genetic variance, and inbreeding over 10 yr of selection were analyzed for traits with heritabilities of .1, .3, and .6. Selection of replacement animals was on individual phenotype or BLUP of breeding value using a reduced animal model. For both of these selection methods, two culling schemes were imposed: 1) based only on involuntary culling because of losses due to conception rate and age and 2) when an available replacement animal was projected to be superior to an existing breeding animal in the herd in addition to the involuntary culling. The contemporary group standard deviation was set at either .1 or .5 of a phenotypic standard deviation. Selection with BLUP gave 72, 36, and 12% more genetic improvement for heritabilities of .1, .3, and .6, respectively, than selection on individual phenotype after 10 yr. However, inbreeding increased 20 to 52% more rapidly and there was a decrease in genetic variance. Culling based on Scheme 2 increased genetic improvement over Scheme 1 by about 75% with coincident increases in inbreeding level and decreases in genetic variance. The largest changes in inbreeding and genetic variance were associated with culling on BLUP. Culling when a superior animal was available with individual phenotype had little effect on inbreeding and genetic variance. Use of four boars rather than eight boars and 25 rather than 12 sows per herd increased genetic response. Use of four boars also increased inbreeding and decreased genetic variance. Genetic variance was higher in herds with 25 sows, but the size of the sow herd had little effect on inbreeding. Contemporary group variation influenced only the genetic response of individual phenotypic selection with culling.     

Indicators of genetic erosion in an endangered population: the Alentejana cattle breed in Portugal

A study was conducted to characterize genetic diversity in the Alentejana breed of cattle based on its demographic trends and to investigate the major factors affecting genetic erosion in this breed. Herdbook information collected between 1940 and 2004, including pedigree records on 100,562 animals in 155 herds, was used to estimate demographic parameters. The mean generation intervals were 6.0 +/- 2.4 yr and 6.8 +/- 3.2 yr for sires and dams of calves, respectively. Average inbreeding increased steadily over the period analyzed, with an annual rate of inbreeding of 0.33 +/- 0.004% (P < 0.01) and an effective population size of 23.3. In the reference population (28,531 calves born between 2000 and 2003) the average inbreeding was 8.35 +/- 9.02% and nearly 80% of the calves were inbred, whereas the average relationship among all animals was 0.026 +/- 0.040. Nevertheless, the mean relationship was 0.328 +/- 0.264 and 0.022 +/- 0.026 for animals born in the same and in different herds, respectively. The computed genetic contributions to the reference population resulted in estimates for the effective number of founders, ancestors, founding herds, and herds supplying sires of 121.6, 55.0, 17.1, and 26.9, respectively, the 2 most influential herds and ancestors contributing 24.2 and 15.1%, respectively, of the current genetic pool. Of the 671 founding sires, only 24 Y-chromosomes are currently represented, but 1 sire alone contributes nearly 60% of this representation, such that the effective number of Y-chromosomes is only 2.73. The observed inbreeding per herd was, on average, 0.053 +/- 0.071 lower than expected from the relationship among the generation of parents of calves in the reference population, indicating that producers have followed breeding strategies that have kept inbreeding at lower levels than anticipated with random selection and mating. When compared with other cattle breeds, Alentejana has some of the highest levels of mean inbreeding and annual rate of inbreeding, and an effective population size that is nearly half of the minimum recommended for maintenance of genetic variability. These critical indicators demonstrate the need to adopt strategies aimed at minimizing inbreeding to avoid further losses of genetic diversity.     

基于Excel的个体近交系数直观估算

通过计算畜群内的个体近交系数,可以把握现有畜群的遗传效应,对于畜群的选种选配有着重要的指导意义,能有效地防止近交造成的品种退化等现象。通过Excel函数计算畜群系谱信息中共同祖先出现的次数频率,可简单快速地估算个体间的近交系数,实现近交系数的直观估算,不需要使用者掌握计算机编程知识,可供基层畜牧行业的技术人员参考使用,能快速估算系谱个体的近交情况,使得对群体遗传效应的评估工作极易进行。     

Genetic variability of six indigenous goat breeds using major histocompatibility complex-associated microsatellite markers

The present study aimed at analyzing the genetic variability of indigenous goat breeds (Capra hircus) using the MHC-associated microsatellite markers BF1, BM1818, BM1258, DYMS1, and SMHCC1. The following breeds were included: Chinese Xuhuai, Indian Changthangi and Pashmina, Kenyan Small East African (SEA) and Galla, and Albanian Vendi. To examine genetic variability, the levels of heterozigosity, degrees of inbreeding, and genetic differences among the breeds were analyzed. The mean number of alleles ranged from nine in the Galla to 14.5 in the Vendi breed. The mean observed heterozygosity and mean expected heterozygosity varied from 0.483 in the Vendi to 0.577 in the Galla breed, and from 0.767 in the SEA to 0.879 in the Vendi breed, respectively. Significant loss of heterozygosity (p < 0.01) indicated that these loci were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The mean F_IS values ranged from 0.3299 in the SEA to 0.4605 in the Vendi breed with a mean value of 0.3623 in all breeds (p < 0.001). Analysis of molecular variance indicated that 7.14% and 4.74% genetic variation existed among the different breeds and geographic groups, whereas 92.86% and 95.26% existed in the breeds and the geographic groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The microsatellite marker analysis disclosed a high degree of genetic polymorphism. Loss of heterozygosity could be due to genetic drift and endogamy. The genetic variation among populations and geographic groups does not indicate a correlation of genetic differences with geographic distance.     

Population genetic structure of Santa Inês sheep in Brazil

This study aimed to describe the population genetic structure and evaluate the state of conservation of the genetic variability of Santa Inês sheep in Brazil. We used pedigree data of the Santa Inês breed available in electronic processing of the Brazilian Association of Sheep Breeders. A file with 20,206 records, which enabled the calculation of the genetic conservation index (GCI), individual inbreeding coefficient (F), change in inbreeding (ΔF), effective population size (Ne), effective number of founders (?_e), effective number of ancestors (?_ɑ), generation interval (L), average relatedness coefficient of each individual (AR), and Wright’s F-statistics (F _IT, F _IS, and F _ST). For pedigree analysis and calculation of population parameters, the program ENDOG was used. The average inbreeding coefficient (\( \overline{F} \)) was 0.97% and the mean average relatedness (\( \overline{\mathrm{AR}} \)) 0.49%. The effective numbers of founders and ancestors were, respectively, 199 and 161. The average values of F and AR increased significantly over the years. The effective population size fluctuated over the years concurrently to oscillations in inbreeding rates, wherein N _e reached just 68 in the year 2012. The mean average generation interval was 5.3 years. The Santa Inês breed in Brazil is under genetic drift process, with loss of genetic variation. It requires the implementation of a genetic management plan in the herd, for conservation and improvement of the breed.     

Application of DNA markers in parentage verification of Boran cattle in Kenya

Boran cattle provide livelihood to thousands of households in the arid and semiarid lands of Kenya. Due to their superior adaptive and productive traits in comparison to other breeds of cattle, they have also become a popular choice for breeders in Eastern and Southern Africa. Continued genetic improvement of the breed is important, and therefore accurate performance and pedigree records are required. One hundred seventy-eight pedigree records and blood samples of four Boran stud herds were evaluated for accuracy of parentage allocation using 11 microsatellite markers recommended by ISAG for parentage verification. The panel of the 11 microsatellite markers was found to be highly polymorphic (PIC of 0.6901) with a combined probability of exclusion of 0.9997. The dam misidentification was low ranging between 0% and 5% for the herds tested. The estimated rate of mispaternity however ranged between 4.3% and 80% among the four stud herds, and more than 50% of the offspring of some herds were misidentified. The high rate of mispaternity will have a negative impact on the response to selection. The use of DNA markers for parentage assignment will improve the accuracy of the pedigree records of Boran stud cattle in Kenya and contribute to more accurate selection of superior animals.     

五指山猪小群体遗传学检测

本研究利用26个微卫星基因座对中国热带农业科学院热带作物品种资源研究所保种场的五指山猪小群体58个样本进行了遗传学检测,用非变性(中性)聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测微卫星的PCR扩增产物,统计了群体平均基因纯合率、等位基因数,利用等位基因频率计算出各群体的平均遗传杂合度(H)、多态信息含量(PIC)。统计结果:全群平均基因纯合率为66.5%;平均多态信息含量、平均观测杂合度为、平均期望杂合度分别为0.807、0.338、0.835;每个位点平均等位基因数为11.92,此结果说明该群体虽然近交程度较高,但仍具有丰富的遗传多样性,遗传变异较大。     

利用SNP标记进行北京地区中国荷斯坦牛亲子推断的研究

本研究旨在利用SNP标记对北京地区中国荷斯坦牛群进行亲子推断,并分析场、母牛出生年月、公牛家系对系谱错误率的影响,以期为指导奶牛育种和生产管理提供依据。共选取了255个最小等位基因频率大于0.45的高多态SNPs标记,利用似然法,采用Cervus3.0软件对北京地区84头荷斯坦公牛和1 927头母牛进行亲子推断研究。结果显示,试验群体平均系谱错误率为20.9%,不同的场、出生年份和月份的母牛的系谱错误率有显著差异(P<0.05),而各公牛家系间系谱错误率差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果说明,错误系谱的发生主要是由于牛场本身记录不完善造成的。在我国亟需建立利用遗传标记监测、校正系谱准确性的制度,采取措施提高系谱的准确性,加快我国荷斯坦牛遗传改良进程。     

4个肉牛品种微卫星多态性分析

本研究探讨了引进牛种（西门塔尔牛、利木赞牛）和山东地方黄牛（鲁西黄牛、利鲁牛）在20个微卫星位点上的多态性。试验从不同地区的种公牛站采集鲁西黄牛、利鲁牛、利木赞牛和西门塔尔牛的血液或精液样本,分别为56、27、31和30个,共计144个样本,血液样本采用Lab-Aid基因组DNA分离试剂盒提取基因组DNA,精液样本采用高盐法提取基因组DNA。利用20个微卫星标记,采用荧光标记毛细管电泳方法,对4个肉牛品种的DNA多态性进行分析,主要研究了每个群体的遗传变异指标（等位基因数、多态信息含量和杂合度）及群体间的遗传关系（F-统计量和基因流）。结果表明,肉牛基因组DNA条带整齐,无拖尾现象,质量较好,可用于本试验。20个微卫星座位中共检测到211个等位基因,平均等位基因数为10.6个。群体的平均观测杂合度在0.6147~0.7176之间,平均期望杂合度在0.6735~0.7862之间。在所有群体中各位点的多态信息含量在0.4853~0.8714之间,平均为0.7284,但在各个群体内的差异较大。近交系数及基因流分析结果表明,4个肉牛品种近交系数较低,群体间平均近交系数为0.085,每个微卫星位点的基因流均>1。总体来看,所选用的20个微卫星座位多态信息含量高,可作为有效遗传标记用于肉牛品种间遗传多样性分析。     

Analysis on the Genetic Diversity of Six Bactrian Camel Populations in China Using Microsatellite Marker

In order to understand the genetic diversity of Bactrian camel and the genetic evolutionary relationships between different populations,the genetic diversity of Alashan camel, Qinghai camel, Nanjiang camel, Beijiang camel, Subei camel and Sunite camel populations in China were analyzed using 10 microsatellite markers. By calculating heterozygosity (H), polymorphism information content (PIC), effective allele (Ne), Shannon information index, the genetic variation within populations were analyzed. By calculating the F-statistics, gene flow, genetic differentiation coefficient and genetic distance to analyze the genetic relationship between populations. The results showed that 89 alleles were tested at the 10 microsatellite loci,8.9 alleles were tested at every locus in average. All loci were medium-highly polymorphic loci (except YWLL08),the average PIC of the Bactrian camel population was between 0.488 to 0.752. The observed heterozygosity (0.355 to 0.448) of 6 Bactrian camel populations was lower than the expected heterozygosity (0.643 to 0.703). Almost all loci Shannon index was greater than 1,and most of loci were in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. The genetic differentiation coefficient between groups (Fst) value was 0.059 and in the low degree of moderately differentiated state. The average Fis values of 6 Bactrian camel populations were positive which suggested 6 Bactrian camel populations had different levels of inbreeding. The standard genetic distance (D_S) and genetic distance T (D_A) clustering analysis showed that the Nanjiang camel and Beijiang camel jointed as one group, the Alxa camel, Qinghai camel, Subei camel, Sunite camel jointed as the other group. Research showed that Chinese Bactrian camel was abundant in genetic diversity, genetic variation within population was larger, and there was a phenomenon of inbreeding. There was a certain gene flow between populations, the differentiation of populations were mainly caused by genetic variation within population. 6 Chinese Bactrian camel populations were divided into two groups.     

中国6个双峰驼群体微卫星遗传多样性分析

为了解中国双峰驼群体的遗传多样性及不同种群间的遗传进化关系,本研究采用微卫星标记技术,对中国阿拉善驼、青海驼、南疆驼、北疆驼、肃北驼、苏尼特驼6个双峰驼群体进行了遗传多样性分析。通过计算杂合度（H）、多态信息含量（PIC）、有效等位基因（Ne）、Shannon信息指数等分析群体内遗传变异,通过计算F-统计量、基因流、遗传分化系数、遗传距离等分析群体间遗传进化关系。结果显示,10个微卫星位点共检测到了89个等位基因,平均每个位点检测到8.9个等位基因;所有位点均属中高度多态位点（YWLL08除外）,平均PIC值在0.488~0.752之间;6个群体观测杂合度值（0.355~0.448）都低于期望杂合度值（0.643~0.703）;几乎所有位点的Shannon指数都>1,且处于哈代-温伯格不平衡状态（P< 0.05）。群体间遗传分化系数Fst值为0.059,处于较低程度的中等分化状态; 6个双峰驼群体的平均Fis值均为正值,说明6个双峰驼群体都存在不同程度的近交。基于标准遗传距离D_S和遗传距离D_A进行聚类分析,南疆驼和北疆驼聚为一支,阿拉善驼、青海驼、肃北驼、苏尼特驼4个群体聚为一支。研究表明,中国双峰驼遗传多样性丰富,群体内遗传变异较大,存在一定近交现象;群体间存在着一定的基因流动,群体间的分化主要由群体内的遗传变异造成;6个群体分为2个类群。     

贵州白香猪群体遗传结构的微卫星分析

采用27对微卫星标记对贵州大学香猪育种场F₁₁、F₁₂世代贵州白香猪的2个品系进行遗传结构分析。试验结果显示,F₁₁世代贵州白香猪Ⅰ、Ⅱ系的平均有效等位基因、平均期望杂合度、平均多态信息含量和平均近交系数分别为1.9281、1.8189,0.4582、0.4221,0.3664、0.3348和0.5418、0.5779;F₁₂世代贵州白香猪Ⅰ、Ⅱ系的有效等位基因、平均杂合度、平均多态信息含量和平均近交系数分别为1.8289、1.7100,0.4315、0.3868,0.3430、0.3063和0.5685、0.6132。结果表明,经过多个世代的近交繁育,贵州白香猪群体的基因多态性低,近交程度高,已成为一个稳定的遗传群体。     

Selection strategies for dairy buffaloes: economic and genetic consequences

Buffaloes are generally raised in Brazil without milk‐recording programs, and thus without genetic evaluations of any of their traits. This study evaluated the economic impacts of three different selection strategies on buffalo populations and the evolution of genetic trends, genetic variances and inbreeding coefficients resulting from each of them. The selection strategies used were as follows: (i) random selection; (ii) phenotypic selection; and (iii) progeny testing (PT). As the numbers of herds enrolled in milk‐recording programs increased, phenotypic selection and PT strategies increased both monetary benefits and genetic trends. The extra costs of implementing milk recording (MR) and PT procedures were exceeded by the income resulting from better buffalo performance. Progeny testing is known to result in beneficial genetic trends and the use of artificial insemination promoted better distributions of genetic material into herds that were not enrolled in milk‐recording programs. Phenotypic selection and PT increased mean milk production ‐ a key factor in profitability. Inbreeding levels remained stable with phenotypic selection, even as the numbers of MR herds increased. Increases in the numbers of sires that were evaluated reduced the mean inbreeding coefficient in PT. Increasing the number of herds enrolled in milk‐recording programs resulted in increased numbers of sires needed for PT, but this did not increase the inbreeding coefficient. In summary, phenotypic selection and PT strategies appear to be economically viable for buffalo husbandry in south‐eastern Brazil under current (2007–2008) economic conditions and should be encouraged.     

利用微卫星标记分析三个绵羊品种及杂交后代遗传多样性

利用微卫星标记技术,分析了无角陶赛特羊、滩羊、小尾寒羊及其杂交后代滩寒F1、陶滩寒F15个绵羊群体的遗传多样性,结果表明:7个微卫星位点均为高度多态位点,平均多态信息含量(PIC)达0.7077~0.8396;5个群体平均位点杂合度达0.7454~0.8665。以Nei氏遗传距离的UPGMA和NJ聚类结果表明,滩羊与滩寒F1具有较近的亲缘关系,小尾寒羊与陶滩寒F1具有较近的亲缘关系,可聚为一类;滩羊、小尾寒羊与陶赛特羊具有较远的亲缘关系。