Studies On Molecular Genetic Diversity Of Deer In China

China is one of the few countries in the World where most deer species reside. Amongst them, two stand out for the velveting purpose: sika deer (Cervus nippon) and wapiti (Cervus elaphus). In order to further investigate the genetic structure and systemic evolution of these two Chinese species, I screened total of 9 breeds of them using microsatellite markers and mtDNA cytochrome b gene sequence to analyze the genetic diversity of these breeds respectively, and obtained the following results.1. The DNA diversity of these 9 deer breeds (n=699) was determined using 20 microsatellite markers and analyzed statistically. Allele frequency, heterozygosity value (H), polymorphism information content (PIC), Nei's standard distance and Nei's distance were calculated. Dendrogram was constructed using the Neighbor-Joining and UMPGA methods. The time of genetic differentiation was estimated. To the best of my knowledge, it was the first time in this study to use 6 microsatellite loci (BL42, MGTG7, BMC1009, BM4107, BM6506, BOVIRBP) from other ruminants as a reference in deer. TGLA10, BM757, BM5004 and IDVGA-29 were Monomorphic loci. Mean heterozygosity of Talimu Wapiti was 0.2732. Expected heterozygosities of Aertai Wapiti and Bongbei Wapiti were all higher than the observed heterozygosities respectively. These results indicate that these wapiti breeds have undergone different degree of bottle-neck effects. Mean content of polymorphism information was 0.4220. GST was 0.2820. Mean Nm was 0.6830. The results of hierarchical clustering are approximately consistent with the geographical distribution of these deer breeds. Based on my results, Chinese wapiti breeds/subspecies could be clustered into four groups. The first group included Aertai Wapiti and Tianshan Wapiti. The second group was made up of Dongbei Wapiti and Zuojia Wapiti. Gansu Wapiti constituted of the third group. The fourth group was Talimi Wapiti. Chinese sika deer could be classified into two big groups. The first group included Dongfeng sika deer and Zuojia sika deer. The second group was made up of Xingkaihu sika deer. Based on my results, the time span of genetic differentiation of Chinese wapiti and sika deer was about 86-2086 years. Among sika deer, the time span of genetic differentiation of Dongfeng and Zuojia Sika deer was the shortest, 110 years. Among wapiti, the time span of genetic differentiation of Talimu and Dongbei Wapiti was the longest, 793 years;whereas, of Aertai and Tianshan Wapiti was the shortest, 86 years. Consequently, there was a relatively shorter time span of genetic differentiation for those species/breeds that habit in the same geographic region. I believe my results have laid foundation for comprehensively understanding the genetic makeup of these Chinese deer species/breeds.2. Partial mtDNA cytochrome b gene sequence (425 bp) difference from 441 individuals of Chinese sika and wapiti was detected respectively. Total 44 kinds of haploid were found. There were 56 variable loci, 18 inversed exchanges and 38 translocation points. The haploid number of Dongbei Wapiti and Zuojia Wapiti were the most, 9. Whereas, the number of Tianshan Wapiti, Xingkaihu sika deer and Dongfeng sika deer were the least, 3.The P-distance within each deer species/breed was 0.00695±00.00129.The P-distance between deer specie/breeds was 0.03399±00.00519.Total P-distanceof Chinese deer species/breeds was 0.04059±00.00635. Based on the analyzed results using beta average linkage clustering from SAS 8.0, wapiti could be clustered into four groups. The first group included TaLiMu Wapiti. The second group was made up of Tianshan Wapiti and Aertai Wapiti. Dongbei Wapiti and Zuojia Wapiti constituted the third group. Subsequently the third group joined Gansu Wapiti to form the fourth group. Sika deer could be classified into two big groups. The first group included XingKaiHu sika deer. The second group was made up of Dongfeng sika deer and Zuojia sika deer. These results were consistent with those gained from microsatellite marker measurements.3. The microsatellite genetic marker was screened through the establishment of general linear model in Dongbei Wapiti, Gansu Wapiti ,Zuojia Wapiti ,Dongfeng deer, Xingkaihu deer and Zuojia deer.There are a marked differences between Antler yield of AB type and that of AA type in Zuojia deer (P=0.0108<0.05);the similiar results come fron the AB type and BB type of microsatellite locus TGLA226 in Xingkaihu deer (P=0.0416<0.05), it means that AB type antler yield of Xingkaihu deer is significant than that of BB type.