Genetic structure of the domestic emu population in Abashiri on the basis of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA polymorphism
2015
Okubo, S. (Tokyo University of Agriculture (Japan). Graduate School of Bioindustry, Laboratory of Animal Resources and Management) | Tada, T. | Shimoi, G. | Soma, K. | Wada, K.
The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a ratite native to Australia. Various products, including oils, meat, and eggs, can be obtained from the emu, making it a useful industrial animal. The genetic improvement of the emu is essential for the development of emu farming. To estimate the genetic diversity of the domestic emu population in Abashiri, we investigated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA polymorphisms. The D-loop region of mtDNA was sequenced, and two haplotypes were detected: 15792C/16114G (a-haplotype) and 15792T/16114A (b-haplotype), with respective frequencies of 0.96 and 0.04. Therefore, the a-haplotype was overwhelmingly prevalent in the Abashiri population. Additionally, four microsatellite loci were genotyped, and polymorphism was detected at all markers. The average number of alleles at these markers was 7.25, and the average observed heterozygosity (Hsub(O)) was 0.52, compared to an average expected heterozygosity (Hsub(E)) of 0.59. Therefore, we speculated that high genetic diversity was maintained in the Abashiri emu population.
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