Individual moltilocus genotype using mirosatellite markers for the analisis of the genetic variability between and within breeds

The protection and management of genetic biodiversity for productive purposes and the preservation of animal germoplasm,is becoming increasilingly important. The methodologies for studying the variability were based, until a few years ago, on the evaluation of morphological and/or funtional traits of the specific genealogical data aiming to estimate , using complex statistical strategies, the genetic variability in the population under selection. Molecular genetics in the last few years has considerably improved the investigation power of researchers. Since the whole DNA polymorphism has become accessible, microsatellites genetic markers allow a more accurate Characterisation of the genetic variability of animal breeds and populations. The applications already made in cattle concern the estimate of genetic distance existing between European breeds and between the most important beef breeds. Other important goals have been reached, including identifying, for commercial purposes, the breed of an individual or its tissue or secretions (meat, milk, sperm) (ciampolini et al ., 1994). A new approach, no less in importance, is the decomposition of the genetic variability within breeds, (Ciampolini et al . 1995 a) currently under study, to individuate possible correlations with functional or productive traits (QTL). For these objectives. we propose specific methodologies for statistical analysis (ciampolini et al 1994) using the individual Multilocus Genotype (IMG) based on microsatellites merkers.