Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers in genetic analysis of relatedness in Japanese quail lines*

Abstract

RAPD-PCR technique was used to analyze 5 Japanese quail lines, viz. control, WES, HWt, WFe and WBr, for evaluating the genetic relatedness and diversity within and among lines. DNA was isolated from 0.1 ml of venous blood using phenol chloroform extraction method. Three random primers reportr.d to yield polymorphic pattern in chicken, were taken for this. Out of thc 3 primers, 2 primers revealed reproducible polymorphic patterns and I primer revealed monomorphic pattern. The data so generated was used to estimate band sharing frequencies (BSF) and genetic distances (D) among lines. Higher within line BSF (0.738-0.925) than between lines BSF (0.667-0.798) were obtained indicating the existence of genetic relatedness within lines. Among meat lines, lowest genetic distance was estimated between White feathered and White breasted (D= 0.016) lines and low genetic distance (D=0.099) were observed between control and WES lines which was in consonance with their breeding history. The study confirms the applicability of RAPD-PCR technique in genetic analysis of Japanese quail lines.