Genetic variation (protein markers and microsatellites) in endangered Catalonian donkeys

Genetic variation of the endangered Catalonian donkey breed (Equus asinus) has been analysed at 19 loci including seven protein loci and 12 microsatellite loci isolated from the domestic horse, in 98 individuals of both sexes. Only four protein markers and three microsatellites were polymorphic. Allele frequencies of the analysed loci showed close agreement with Hardy}Weinberg proportions, with the exception of the MPZ002 locus (P(0.01). The withinpopulation inbreeding estimate was not signi"cantly di!erent from zero (as measured by F IS -statistic). The cumulative-exclusion probability for all polymorphic loci was 82.9%, this value still being very low so that these markers could e$ciently be utilised for veri"cation of parentage. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.