Population genetic structure of cage-bred sables

The complexity of selective breeding in fur farming, particularly with sables, stems from the limited data on genetic characteristics that determine economically valuable traits, which hinders the development of effective selection and breeding strategies. In this context, the present study conducted a comparative analysis of polymorphism in a range of molecular genetic markers of sable (Martes zibellina) genomic DNA for multilocus genotyping, based on microsatellite loci (ISSR-PCR) and long terminal repeats (LTRs) of endogenous retroviruses (IRAP-PCR). As a result, using three microsatellites and two LTRs, 48 loci were identified, of which 27 were polymorphic. The most informative DNA markers, based on the level of polymorphic information content (PIC), were the amplification products obtained using the microsatellite (ACC)₆G and LTRs of endogenous retroviruses BERV-LTR-K1 and LTR- SIRE1 as primers. Differences in the frequency of occurrence of specific DNA fragments (loci of varying lengths) were established between groups of individuals born in different years, which may be associated with variations in parental populations. The obtained data indicate the potential of the proposed DNA markers for analyzing genetic diversity, assessing relatedness, and studying population-genetic processes across sable generations. The proposed approaches are applicable for monitoring the genetic status of populations and planning sable breeding under farm conditions. The results highlight the importance of DNA markers as a tool for controlling and managing the genetic resources of the cage-bred species.