Molecular Biology: Open Access

Determination of Genetic Similarities in Natural Populations of Drosophila melanogaster in Savanna Zone of Nigeria Using Microsatellite Markers

Abstract

Abdulazeez R, Auta J, Shehu DM, Ndams IS and Umar AU

This study was carried out to determine genetic similarities in natural population of Drosophila melanogaster in savannah zone of Nigeria using microsatellite markers. A total of 184 D. melanogaster was collected using simple traps baited with banana and baker’s yeast from Northern Guinea (Kaduna), Sudan (Kano) and Sahel (Azare). A total of 40 D. melanogaster were genotyped using 7 sets of microsatellite markers, the bands in the electrophoregramme were analysed and scored using the image Lab™. The result was used to compute dendrogramme based on Nei’s genetic distance using MEGA 6. Result showed that studied population forms two (2) clusters at various degrees of similarities with Sudan savanna and Sahel Savanna forming a cluster at 0.21 then grouped with Northern Guinea Savanna to form the second (2^nd) cluster at 0.78 distances, suggesting that Northern Guinea Savanna and Sudan Savanna Drosophila melanogaster populations have a recent common ancestor.