Conservation priorities of genetic diversity in domesticated metapopulations: a study in taurine cattle breeds.

ABSTRACT: We estimated neutral diversity of 21 European cattle breeds with 105 microsatellites. Nine of them resembled unselected Balkan Buša strains with diffuse breeding barriers and the 12 others were strongly differentiated, isolated breeds. Because of the impact of neutral genetic diversity on long-term population adaptive capacity, we discuss the long-term outcome of different conservation priorities in a subdivided metapopulation of the investigated cattle breeds. The optimal contribution to a pool of total genetic diversity allocated more than 95% of long-term relevant neutral diversity to virtually unselected strains of the Balkan Buša, while the maximization of total variance preferred inbred breeds. Current artificial selection methods, such as genomic selection sped up and a recovery of

SUBMITTER: Medugorac I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3287311 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature