Mitochondrial DNA diversity of A natolian indigenous domestic goats

Summary Anatolia has been an important region for civilizations and agricultural revolution as a major domestication centre for livestock species. Goats ( C apra hircus ) were among the earliest domesticated animals in this region. In this study, genetic diversity of A natolian goat breeds was characterized by comparison of mitochondrial DNA hypervariable region 1. A total of 295 individuals, including 99 A natolian B lack goats, 96 A ngora goats and 100 K ilis goats, were used. Haplogroup A was found to be the dominant haplogroup in all three breeds. The highest haplogroup diversity, including haplogroups A , B 2, C and G , was observed in the A natolian B lack breed. Haplogroup D was only observed in K ilis and A ngora goats. Haplogroup G was found in A ngora and A natolian B lack breeds. The A natolian goat breeds had high genetic diversity values and a weak phylogeographical structure. The nucleotide diversity values were found to be higher than those in previously studied goat breeds. The fact that A natolia is a domestication centre and its geographical position as a junction of trade routes may have caused the higher genetic diversity of A natolian goat breeds.