A diagnostic assay discriminating between two major Ovis aries mitochondrial DNA haplogroups

Two major Ovis aries mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups have been descri bed in independent studies. HinfI RFLP data of mitochondrial genomes from a large sample set (n = 239) indicated an ancient mutation which differentia tes between the two mtDNA types. A completely determined sheep mtDNA sequen ce was used to assign this mutation to the COI gene and to develop a PCR ba sed assay discriminating between the two phylogenetic branches. The haplogr oup specificity of the mutation was further investigated in 26 randomly sel ected individuals. The animals were unequivocally assigned to their respect ive groups on the basis of the developed test and their complete control re gion sequences. The assay provides a rapid and economic means of discrimina ting between both major domestic sheep mtDNAs.