Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. d1bannasch@ucdavis.edu
In order to evaluate the genetic structure of purebred dogs, six Y chromosome microsatellite markers were used to analyze DNA samples from 824 unrelated dogs from 50 recognized breeds. A relatively small number of haplotypes (67) were identified in this large sample set due to extensive sharing of haplotypes between breeds and low haplotype diversity within breeds. Fifteen breeds were characterized by a single Y chromosome haplotype. Breed-specific haplotypes were identified for 26 of the 50 breeds, and haplotype sharing between some breeds indicated a common history. A molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) demonstrated significant genetic variation across breeds (63.7%) and with geographic origin of the breeds (11.5%). A network analysis of the haplotypes revealed further relationships between the breeds as well as deep rooting of many of the breed-specific haplotypes, particularly among breeds of African origin.