The genetic diversity of seven indigenous Chinese goat breeds

The mitochondrial hypervariable regions I (HVI) with 481 bp in 107 individuals belonging to seven Chinese goat breeds from different geographic regions were analyzed. Seventy-seven haplotypes were identified in our samples. The haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity are 0.943–1.000 and 0.01810–0.03911, respectively, and the genetic diversity of Chinese goats is very abundant. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that there were four mtDNA lineages (A–D) identified in Chinese goats, in which lineage A was predominant, lineage B was moderate, and lineages C and D were at low frequency. These results further supported the multiple maternal origins of domestic goats. There was no significant geographical structuring in Chinese goat populations. © 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.