Molecular phylogeny and characterization of mundri sheep (ovis aries) of Pakistan through sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit i

Abstract

The main focus of this research is to determine the molecular phylogeny and characterization of Mundri Sheep (Ovis aries) through sequencing of mitochondrial Cytochrome b and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI). This sheep breed appears morphologically different from other local sheep breeds of Pakistan. The current research is carried out to appraise the status of Mundri sheep whether it is a different breed from other breeds or not. Blood samples of Mundri sheep were collected from Livestock Experiment Station, (LES) Fazilpur in district Rajanpur (Punjab). DNA was isolated and subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for amplification of Cytochrome b and COI genes using appropriate primers. PCR products were sequenced and analyzed by MEGA X software. The phylogeny analysis categorized Ovis aries including Mundri sheep into three and two groups for Cytochrome b and COI genes respectively. It showed Mundri sheep as a separate group and thus as a separate breed from all other local sheep breeds. Hence the study validates based on Cytochrome b and COI that Mundri sheep is a distinctive breed from the rest of the local sheep breed.