Microsatellite Markers and Its Application in Sheep and Goat Genetics and Breeding

Microsatellite DNA is a new type of molecular marker, which has developed from the end of the 80's of 20th century. Compared with other molecular markers, it has many advantages, such as great quantity, extensive and equable dispersion around the genome, rich polymorphism, Mendelian cod-ominant inheritance, rapid and convenient detection, etc. And microsatellite marker has been served as evaluating diversity extensively, constructing inheritance chain graph, drafting systemic tree, determining QTL location, marking accessorial selection, diagnosing disease and identifying consanguinity relationship, etc. Therefore, microsatellite markers and its application in genetics and breeding of sheep and goat were summarized in this article.