Genetic diversity of lactoferrin gene insilico on selected mammalian species

Abstract

A total of 17 lactoferrin gene sequences belonging to 6 species: cattle (3), buffalo (3), sheep (3), goat (3), horse (2) and camel (3), were retrieved from Genbank (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Sequences alignment, translation and comparison were done with ClustalW of the MEGA 6.0. The present study therefore aimed at examining the genetic diversity of Lf gene in-silico on selected mammalian species. The Dxy inferred using p-distance revealed a maximum value of 0.50 between buffalo, sheep and goat whereas a minimum value of 0.01 was realized between sheep and goat. The maximum Dxy value of 0.15 were observed between horse and camel whereas no minimum value was recorded during the investigation. The Neighbour Joining tree from the phylogenetic analysis showed trans-species evolution however, UPGMA tree topology was species-wise. This genetic tree obtained advance some form of proximity and differentiation in Lactoferrin gene sequences within and among the mammalian species studied which provide basis for selection of livestock in terms of genetic relationship.