Within and between varieties genetic polymorphism in the guinea fowl using DNA markers

Three guinea fowl varieties i.e. White (GW), Lavender (GL) and Pearl (GP) were screened using pooled DNA samples and 20 random primers. Seventeen primers generated distinct RAPD profiles. Out of these 17 primers, 4 primers (23.58%) i.e. OPA-09, OPL18, OPP07 and OPY02 detected polymorphism within as well as between the guinea fowl varieties. Pooled over the primers, number of total bands amplified within GW was 25, while in other two varieties and between all the varietal combinations, 26 bands were amplified and these bands resolved in the size range of 429 bp to 2568 bp. While 13 out of 25 bands were polymorphic within GW, numbers of polymorphic bands were 13 out of 26 in GL and 17 out of 26 in GP. While between GL and GP, 18 out of 26 bands were polymorphic, number of polymorphic bands was 17 between GL & GW and between GL & GP. No variety specific band could be identified.