Establishment of Tibetan-Sheep-Specific SNP Genetic Markers

Tibetan sheep are one of the three major coarse breeds in China, and they possess a long history formation. However, few studies have been conducted on identification at molecular level. In this study, total 448 individuals from 24 populations 5 regions Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan were analyzed using Affymetrix Ovine SNP 600K high-density chip to construct specific single-nucleoside polymorphism (SNP) genetic marker sets breeds. Firstly, structure analysis showed that Yunnan–Tibetan (NL, Ninglang; JC, Jianchuan), Zuogong (ZG), Heizang (HZ), Gongga (GG,) Tao (TS) can be clearly distinguished other populations. Next, based population differentiation index FST, PCA NJ tree results only 60 SNPs successfully separate Yunnan region regions, distinguishing effect reached 100%. Using same method, we found 4 breeds, including (ZG, 20 SNPs), (HZ, (GG, (TS, 30 also with loci (20–60), Overall, obtained region-specific (60 SNPs) set breed-specific (20–60 for first time These made up lack provided genomic basis scientific classification accurate livestock poultry resources Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.