Genetic relationships of Iranian sheep breeds using biochemical genetic marker

Blood from ten Iranian sheep breeds were sampled in their original places of distribution in Iran. Serum and erythrocytes were separated and samples were shipped to Hungary in frozen form. The breeds were Ghezel, Shahl, Makoei, Moghani, Zel, Karakul, Baluchi, Kurdi, Lori and Shiraz Gray. The variation at Hb, HPX, Alb, EsA, X-protein, Carbonic Anhydrase, Tf, PO2 (alpha(1) B-glycoprotein), GC (vitamin D-binding protein), and Ovine Plasminogen Antigen loci were examined to characterize the breeds and to obtain genetic relationships among them. New variants were found at three protein loci. We called them preliminary PO2(I), PO2(J) and PO2(K) at PO2 locus, GC(I) at vitamin D-binding also OPA(I) at Ovine Plasminogen Antigen locus as the genetic controll has still to be proved. Genetic relationships among the breeds were obtained using NEI's standard distance (NEI, 1975). These distances were compared with those calculated according to the CAVALLI-SFORZA and EDWARDS (1967). The most genetically distant breeds were Kurdi and Baluchi, while the most genetically close breeds were Shiraz Gray and Lori. Regressions between genetic distances and geographical distances have been analyzed considering historical immigration of Kurdi breed.