title: Genetic diversity of selected genes that are potentially economically important in feral sheep of New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Feral sheep are considered to be a source of genetic variation that has been lost from their domestic counterparts through selection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigates variation in the genes KRTAP1-1, KRT33, ADRB3 and DQA2 in Merino-like feral sheep populations from New Zealand and its offshore islands. These genes have previously been shown to influence wool, lamb survival and animal health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the genes were polymorphic, but no new allele was identified in the feral populations. In some of these populations, allele frequencies differed from those observed in commercial Merino sheep and other breeds found in New Zealand. Heterozygosity levels were comparable to those observed in other studies on feral sheep. Our results suggest that some of the feral populations may have been either inbred or outbred over the duration of their apparent isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variation described here allows us to draw some conclusions about the likely genetic origin of the populations and selective pressures that may have acted upon them, but they do not appear to be a source of new genetic material, at least for these four genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Grant W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Huitong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merrick
authors.forename: Rachel H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: J Richard
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sedcole
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hickford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding / Q000191:economics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D053530:Keratins, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D009520:New Zealand; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; C103596:HLA-DQA2 antigen; D053530:Keratins, Type I; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3