Genomic polymorphism in Uruguayan Creole cattle using RAPD and microsatellite markers

Uruguayan Creole cattle inhabit areas that cannot sustain conventional farm ing. They have adapted to fragile environments and are influenced only by n atural selection. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) an d microsatellite (MS) markers were used to analyse Creole cattle genome pol ymorphism. A comparative analysis using the RAPD technique was performed in pooled DNA of three cattle breeds (Holstein Friesian, Creole and Hereford) in order to evaluate their amplification patterns. A primary screening of RAPD primers allowed us to select and use those with higher percentage of c c base composition. A total of 215 loci ranging between 300 and 2500 bp wer e amplified. Bandsharing frequency (BSF) among breeds showed that less rela ted fingerprints were observed between Creole and Hereford cattle (0.77), w hile the highest similarity frequency corresponded to Holstein Friesian com pared to Hereford (0.81). Specific RAPD bands were identified in the three DNA pools and they were tested in every individual of each breed. It may be possible to isolate and sequence these bands to create breed-specific mole cular markers. The identification of multiple alleles of the Ms CYP21 in Cr eole cattle with an heterozygosity of He = 0.846 supported the variability of this genetic resource. The use of molecular markers such as RAPDS and mi crosatellites is proposed to establish genetic distance among American Creo le cattle and possibly related ancestral Iberian breeds. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.