Genetic diversity, population structure and kinship relationships highlight the environmental influence on Uganda’s indigenous goat populations

• DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1385611
• Publication Date: 2024-05-30T05:58:42Z
• Authors: Ziwena Nantongo; Josephine Birungi; Stephen Obol Opiyo; Gabriel Shirima; Swidiq Mugerwa; Collins Mutai; Martina Kyalo; Linus Munishi; Morris Agaba; Raphael Mrode
• Keywords: Fixation index

Knowledge about genetic diversity and population structure among goat populations is essential for understanding environmental adaptation fostering efficient utilization, development, conservation of breeds. Uganda's indigenous goats exist in three phenotypic groups: Mubende, Kigezi, Small East African. However, a limited their attributes hinders the development sustainable utilization goats. Using Goat Illumina 60k chip International Genome Consortium V2, whole-genome data 1,021 sourced from 10 agroecological zones Uganda were analyzed structure. A total 49,337 (82.6%) single-nucleotide polymorphism markers aligned to ARS-1 genome used assess diversity, structure, kinship relationships Moderate was observed. The observed expected heterozygosities 0.378 0.383, average distance 0.390, minor allele frequency 0.30. inbreeding coefficient (Fis) 0.014, fixation index (Fst) 0.016. Principal component analysis, admixture discriminant analysis principal components grouped genotypes into genetically distinct that did not conform known but varied across conditions. Population 1, comprising Mubende (90%) Kigezi (8.1%) goats, located southwest central Uganda, warm humid environment. 2, which 59% 49% African along Nile Delta northwestern around Albertine region, hot savannah grassland. 3, 78.4% 21.1% found northeastern eastern dry Commiphora woodlands. Genetic information this study will be basis future conservation, resources.