RESTRICTION ENZYME ANALYSIS OF CYTOPLASMIC GENETIC-VARIATION IN SHEEP

Restriction endonuclease fragment patterns of mtDNA from 81 sheep belonging to four German breeds (Merinolandschaf, Rhoenschaf, Schwarzkoepfiges Fleischschaf and Skudde) and Mouflons were analyzed using 16 enzymes. A total of 15 different fragment patterns were detected with HaeIII and HinfI. Polymorphisms were relatively rare compared to the most common morphs and the results indicate an overall sequence divergence below 0.5% although at least one mtDNA form seems to differ considerably from the majority of the DNAs examined. There was no evidence for distinct breed specific mtDNAs and restriction patterns of Mouflon mtDNAs were identical to those of the most abundant domestic sheep DNAs.