Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in Argentine and Bolivian Creole cattle using five loci related to milk production

Análisis de la diversidad genética de ganado bovino lechero del trópico alto de Nariño mediante marcadores moleculares heterólogos de tipo microsatélite

<p>Cinco razas de ganado bovino del trópico alto de Nariño fueron caracterizadas usando once loci microsatélites. Se incluyeron las razas Holstein, Jersey, Normando, Pardo suizo y el ganado Criollo. Las frecuencias alélicas fueron calculadas y usadas para la caracterización de las razas y el estudio de sus relaciones genéticas. La diversidad genética reflejada en el número de alelos por locus (NPA= 10) y la heterocigosidad observada (Ho= 0.7) fue alta, siendo mayor para la raza Criolla. El AMOVA, evidenció una baja diferenciación genética (FST=0.0663) para la población total, con una pequeña diferenciación entre Criollo y Holstein (0.006), resultado que fue correspondiente con el análisis de agrupamiento bayesiano, que permitió determinar un grado de absorción del núcleo Criollo del 56% por la raza Holstein. La alta diversidad, supone procesos de adaptación a diferentes ambientes y mezcla de razas, facilitando un continuo flujo genético. Esto puede explicarse por la realización de cruces dirigidos al incremento del volumen de producción teniendo como base la raza Holstein, donde la selección intensiva puede conllevar al detrimento de la pureza del ganado criollo e incidir en su capacidad adaptativa.</p>

Analysis of a polymorphism in the DGAT1 gene in 14 cattle breeds through PCR-SSCP methods

The diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT1) is a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the final step of triglyceride synthesis. Recent work have evidenced a significant association between lysine at amino acid position 232 with elevated milk fat content, while an alanine at this position is associated with lowered milk fat content. The aim of the present work was to develop a simple and inexpensive PCR-SSCP assay in order to discriminate the CG/AA alleles in exon 8 of the DGAT1 gene. In addition, this method was used to analyze the polymorphism of the DGAT1 through PCR-SSCP methods in 14 populations of cattle from Argentine, Bolivia and Uruguay. The PCR primers were designed from GenBank reported sequences. In this study, we found three PCR-SSCP variants, which were denominated from "A" to "C". However, DNA sequencing analysis showed that "A" variant corresponded with the A allele, while both "B" and "C" observed pattern have the motif AA at positions 10,433-10,434 (K allele), being two alternative conformations of the same DNA sequence. Both variants were detected within each breed with the exception of Hereford, and the heterozygosity varied between 0.000 and 0.524. The gene frequency analysis evidenced significant differences among the studied breeds (F(ST) = 0.325, p = 0.000). European Bos taurus breeds, with the exception of Jersey breed, showed the lowest frequency of the K allele, while highest K allele frequencies were harboured by Bos indicus type cattle. In addition, unselected South American Creole cattle breeds and the synthetic Brangus breed had intermediate allele frequencies.