Features of genetic variability in microsatellite DNA loci in the French Bulldog dog breed

Abstract

Genetic variability in microsatellite markers PEZ1, PEZ3, PEZ6, PEZ8, FHC2010, and FHC2054 from a panel recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics has been assessed for a micropopulation of dogs of the French Bulldog breed. The number and size of alleles, the number of alleles per locus, the effective number of alleles, the polymorphism index, expected and actual heterozygosity, and Wright’s fixation index have been determined to characterize each locus investigated. Deficit of heterozygous genotypes was observed in the micropopulation investigated, which is indicative of inbreeding. The relationship between the degree of homozygosity for six microsatellite loci and the degree of inbreeding has been analyzed. The results obtained point at a trend for increase of the relative abundance of homozygous loci upon an increase in the inbreeding coefficient of individuals.