Genetic polymorphism of transferrin and albumin in donkeys in Croatia

In 75 donkeys of Croatia that were classified into three types (Littoral-Di naric, Northern-Adriatic and Istrian) transferrin and albumin polymorphisms were studied by electrophoresis. Transferrin allele frequencies indicate t he phylogenetic relationship of the Istrian and Northern-Adriatic type of d onkey, as well as the significant difference of Littoral-Dinaric type in re lation to populations living in the area of Kvarner islands and Istria. Alb umin allele frequencies have not indicated a significant difference between the types. Standard genetic distance is the greatest between Littoral-Dina ric and Istrian types and the smallest between Northern-Adriatic and Istria n types of donkey, which also corresponds to the geographical distance of t he areas in which these populations live. In order to get more information, it is necessary to direct further research towards determination of freque ncies of other polymorphic proteins and direct DNA typing.