Genetic Diversity and Distances of Three Egyptian Local Sheep Breeds using Microsatellite Markers

An analysis of nineteen microsatellite loci in 79 unrelated individuals was performed to define the genetic structure and variability of three local sheep breeds: “Sinai, Rahmani and Ossimi”. Allele diversity, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity and genetic distance were calculated. Wright F-statistics, (FIS, FIT and FST) values were estimated. The average number of alleles per locus was 21.1 . Within breeds, the mean number of alleles ranged from 15.26 in Rahmani to 16.15 in Sinai. Mean expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.923 in Sinai to 0.932 in Ossimi. Inbreeding coefficient for all populations is rather low FIS = 0.097 ranging from -0.079 in Rahmani to 0.118 in Ossimi. The mean genetic differentiation FST was 0.02 and demonstrated that 98% of total genetic variation is due to genetic differentiation within each population. In the neighbor–joining tree based on genetic distance (DS) Rahmani and Ossimi were grouped together, than Sinai. This study on sheep genetic diversity in Egypt provides valuable information on Sinai, Rahmani and Ossimi sheep genetic resources, and can assist in developing a national plan for the genetic improvement of indigenous sheep breeds in Egypt.