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Abstract. Alexandria line is a synthetic paternal rabbit line which was established and progressing at the nucleus breeding rabbit unit of the Poultry Research Center, Egypt. Molecular genetic characterization of rabbit's lines is a prerequisite towards effective utilization of selection and breeding program. Ten RAPD and SSR primers were used in this study to characterize Alexandria line. A total of 143 bands were detected. Non-specific RAPD markers were detected at MW ranged from 400 to 1800 bp, these markers were generated from primers (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10). While specific SSR markers were detected at MW ranged from 550 to 950 bp, these markers were generated from primers (1, 2, 6, and 8). Molecular markers including RAPD and SSR fingerprints represent reliable tools which may have a great impact in rabbit breeding programs and genetic improvement of rabbits.
Key Words: Rabbit fingerprint, rabbit breeding program, RAPD-PCR, SSR-PCR.
Introduction. Domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has its importance as supplier of meat and it is widely accepted through out the world for human consumption (Colin & Lebas 1996). Recently, rabbits have attracted more attention from the biotechnology experiments (El-Bayomi et al 2013). Molecular genetic markers have been widely used as powerful tools for characterization and analyzing the genome. DNA markers data provide useful information on the origins, characterization, relationships, genetic similarity and diversity of domestic animal breeds. Characterization at the molecular level is important to explore genetic diversity within and between animal populations and to determine genetic relationships among such populations (Rahimi et al 2005). PCR-based multi-locus DNA fingerprinting represents one of the most informative and cost effective measures of genetic diversity (Bagley et al 2001). El-Raffa (2005) reported that some countries of hot climate as Egypt have started a programme of founding several synthetics between exotic lines and local breeds intended to reach a compromise between the performance of the exotic line and the adaptation to the heat stress. Finally we had reached to Alexandria line which combines several important economical traits.
Consequently, the main object of the present study is to genetically characterize Alexandria line (Figure 1) by studying DNA fingerprinting using: (i) RAPD analysis, (ii) SSR analysis.
Random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) becomes an important technique for identifying lines of rabbits...