MtDNA D-loop Sequence Analysis of Some Anatolian Native Cattle Breeds: Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Population History

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA is the molecular indicator of maternal inheritance and is one of the frequently preferred markers in population genomics, phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies due to its features such as evolving faster than genomic DNA, lack of recombination and showing differences according to the geographical distribution of species. In this research, mitochondrial DNA D-Loop region sequence analyzes were performed in order to reveal the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of some domestic cattle breeds bred in Anatolia. First of all, the sampling study of the cattle breeds that were the subject of the research, was completed. Mitochondrial DNA D-Loop region was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction from the DNA isolated samples using the Standard Phenol/Chloroform Method. After DNA sequencing, data of domestic cattle breeds were analyzed together with reference mitochondrial DNA sequences from GenBANK, and their haplotype and nucleotide diversity, and genetic and phylogenetic relationships within and between populations were evaluated. With the data obtained, it was determined that the nucleotide and haplotype diversity, haplotype numbers, intra and inter population variation were quite high in Anatolian native cattle breeds. It was also concluded that the native cattle breeds bred in Anatolia are phylogenetically between Asian and European cattle breeds.