Date

2012

Author

Açan, Sinan Can

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In the first part of the present study, samples of 13 native Turkish sheep breeds (n=628) were examined, individually and comparatively, with respect to their 19 microsatellite loci to characterize them by employing various statistical analyses. Low FST values, high mean number of alleles and allelic richness as well as results of Factorial Correspondence Analysis and Structure analyses showed the degree of admixture between native sheep breeds of Turkey, IVE and SAK were observed as the most distincts of the breeds and possible introgressions were detected in other breeds. The 2- BAD, a software to examine the admixtures, was employed to estimate the time of the admixtures and the MSVAR software was employed to detect past demographic histories. In the second part, evaluations based on their genetic characteristics were made in relation to their prioritization in conservation studies. By employing four different approaches, it has been concluded that IVE, SAK, KRY, KIV, HEM and breed from Central Anatolia should be included in a conservation program for the preservation of optimum genetic diversity. In the last part of the thesis breeds were also characterized with respect to their relative risk of extinctions and their merits, which were used to estimate the utilities of the breeds. Non-genetic factors, collected based on the existing literature and surveys throughthe questionnaires filled by the field specialists, were incorporated into genetic factors to estimate the utilities of the breeds under different scenarios. In this approach, it is concluded that NOR, AKK, SAK, IVE and HEM should be included in the conserved set of breeds. By the present study, it is believed that specific genetic features of the natıve Turkish sheep breeds were documented, effects of sampling on the population genetic studies was discussed, the need for a reliable data (genetic and nongenetic, for characterizing the risks and merits of the breeds) for the prioritization of the breeds in the long term sustainable conservation ofthem was emphasized.

Subject Keywords

Animal genetics, Sheep breeds

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614257/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/21443

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis