Genetic Similarity Among the Three Egyptian Water Buffalo Flocks Using RAPD-PCR and PCR-RFLP Techniques

Genetic similarity and polymorphisms among the three Egyptian water buffalo flocks (Beheiry, Minoufy and Saidy) were studied using both random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. Ten random primers were used to amplify DNA fragments in these three flocks. RAPD patterns with a level of polymorphism were detected among flocks. The results showed that the highest genetic similarity was observed between Beheiry and Minoufy (85%), while the lowest was observed between Beheiry and Saidy (74%). In addition to RAPD technique, restriction fragment length polymorphism for 18S rRNA gene was also applied in this study to detect the genetic similarity among these three genotypes (Beheiry, Minoufy and Saidy) which was 100%, approximately. Finding of this study confirms the classification of Egyptian water buffaloes to three flocks according to their phenotypic characters.