Gen Kaynaklarının ve Biyoçeşitliliğin Korunması Kapsamında Yerli At Irklarının Genetik Karakterizasyonu

Özet

Nowadays, animal genetic resources are rapidly decreasing due to environmental and economic conditions. In order to protect genetic diversity
that we have, the molecular characterization of domestic animal genetic resources and in vitro conservation studies have been initiated by the
TURKHAYGEN-I project. During this project, 11 fieldwork was carried out in 12 different geographical regions for selected horse breeds, which
are Hınıs, Malakan, Canik, Çukurova Horses and Ayvacık Pony. Sampled individuals have been characterized by using 21 autosomal microsatellite
markers and mtDNA D-loop region seqeuence analysis. According to mtDNA sequence analysis, 68 polymorphic sites and 151 haplotypes
(haplotype diversity (Hd)): 0,9866±0,0017, nucleotide diversity (Pi): 0,021±0,00036 and average number of nucleotide differences (k): 8,006) were
identified among populations. Median-Joining network analysis revealed 54 different haplogroups having non-breed-specific distribution profile.
Similarly, breed-specific branching on neighbor joining (NJ) tree drawing by Kimura 2-parameter have not been observed. Calculated Fıs values
did not indicate the meaningful deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for any populations. More dynamic population structure of horse
breeds compared to other livestock animals, highly changable territories and uncontrolled animal movements cause genetic mixing of Anatolian
native horse populations. Current status shows the requirements of a conscious conservation programs to protect our native horse breeds against the
environmental and socio-economic pressures.