SYNTHETIC DNA-BASED GENETIC-MARKERS REVEAL INTRASPECIES AND INTERSPECIES DNA-SEQUENCE VARIABILITY IN THE BUBALUS-BUBALIS AND RELATED GENOMES

A series of synthetic oligonucleotide probes were developed as markers for genetic analysis and molecular systematics of Bubalus bubalis and other eutherian mammals. A very high level of heterozygosity (similar to 95%) was observed in the bubaline genome, with an overall band-sha ring probability of 2.08 x 10(-11) using (TGG)(6) and Hinf I probe-enz yme combination, Breed affiliation studies on different buffalo breeds , viz, Toda, Surti, Mehsana, and Murrah, revealed that the semiwild To da breed belonged to a distinct group. The desired genotypes in each s uccessive generation in an actual breeding program were also identifie d by employing a DNA fingerprinting approach using these markers. Esti mation of genetic distances by calculating the mean allelic frequencie s at (CA)(n), (TGG)(n), and (GGAT)(n) repeat loci between buffalo and other related animals such as horse (order Perisodactyla), rabbits (or der Lagomorpha, (pigs, cattle, goat, and sheep (order Artiodactyla) re vealed that with respect to the genetic distance coefficient (GDC), go at (caprine) was closer to buffalo (GDC = 0.0005) than sheep (ovine) ( GDC = 0.0007). The genetic distance between horse and buffalo was calc ulated to be 0.4085, indicating that compared to other animals, horse was distantly related to buffalo, The understanding of overall allelic variations and breed affiliation of the bubaline genome will contribu te to the propagation and conservation of the desired germ plasm and b etter management of this species.