Characterisation of Iberian pig genotypes using AFLP markers

The use of the AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) technique for the characterisation of highly inbred Iberian pig breed genotypes and the d etection of strain-specific polymorphisms is demonstrated. Twelve different primer combinations were used on individual DNA samples from animals belon ging to two black hairless Iberian pig strains, Guadyerbas and Coronado. Th ese amplification reactions allowed the detection of more than 1700 amplifi cation products of which 26 were identified as strain-specific markers, pre sent in all individuals of one strain and absent in the other. Comparison o f male and female amplification products within one strain also allowed the identification of 8 male-specific amplified bands. AFLP showed a great pow er of marker detection due to a high multiplex ratio and high reproducibili ty. Comparison of similarity and co-ancestry coefficient matrices also show ed the usefulness of AFLP markers to estimate genetic relationships between individuals pigs.