Low Genetic Diversity of the Turopolje Pig Breed

Matija Harcet¹*, Marija Đikić² and Vera Gamulin<sup>1

1</sup>Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 52, P.O. Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
²Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Article history:
Received February 28, 2005
Accepted May 25, 2005

Key words:
autochthonous pig, genetic diversity, microsatellites, mitochondrial D-loop

Summary:
We have performed a genetic diversity study of the Turopolje pig breed. Microsatellite genotyping on ten loci recommended by International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as mitochondrial D-loop sequencing were chosen as methods. Allele numbers, effective allele numbers (Ne), polymorphism information content (PIC), observed and expected heterozygosities were calculated. Mitochondrial sequences were compared to the sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. We have found relatively low genetic diversity at ten microsatellite loci and no differences in the partial D-loop sequence. Reasons for and consequences of low genetic diversity are discussed.

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