Mitochondrial Diversity and Phylogenetic Structure of Marghoz Goat Population

The genetic diversity and phylogenetic structure was analyzed in Marghoz goat population by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using hyper variable region 1 (968 bp) obtained form 40 animals. Marghoz goat proved to be extremely diverse (average haplotype diversity of 0.999) and the nucleotide diversity values 0.022. A total of 40 Marghoz goats were grouped into six haplotypes and the large majority of haplotypes were present in 15 animals. All Marghoz haplotypes were classified into C haplogroup and revealed remarkably high genetic distances within the population when compared with other Asian goat populations, indicating high genetic variation in the Marghoz goat. These results indicate high-divergence status of the Marghoz goat and will influence breeding and conservation strategies adopted for this breed.