A SET OF POLYMORPHIC DNA MICROSATELLITES USEFUL IN SWAMP AND RIVER BUFFALO (BUBALUS-BUBALIS)

DNA microsatellites have found widespread application in gene mapping, pedigree determination and population genetics. In closely related sp ecies such as bovids, heterologous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) pri mers may in some cases be used, bypassing the need to isolate and char acterize microsatellite-containing sequences and design PCR primers. W e report on the ability of a set of eighty bovine derived DNA microsat ellite primers to amplify sequences in the two types (swamp and river) of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Number of alleles and per cent he terozygosities in a large number of animals were determined on a subse t of microsatellite loci selected on the robustness of the primers. Th ese loci will form the basis of a set of polymorphic DNA markers for u se in water buffalo.