SNP panel for evaluation of genetic variability and relationship in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Blood samples from forty-six roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) acquired during officially approved hunting in six hunting divisions throughout Poland were used to isolate the genomic DNA. All individuals were genotyped by MD_Bovine BeadChip (Illumina) for 46.750 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. SNPs of inappropriate clusters, with a marker call rate lower than 90% and with a minor allele frequency (MAF) lower than 0.01, located on sex chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA, were removed. Altogether, 21.033 SNP markers were included for further analysis. Observed and expected heterozygosity amounted to 0.098 and 0.119, respectively. Among 21.033 markers, a panel of 148 SNPs were selected for relationship analysis. They were unlinked and had a MAF higher than 0.2. This set of SNPs showed a proba-bility of parentage exclusion of 1.29x10-6 and 2.37x10-19 for one, and two known parents, respec-tively. The probability of identity was estimated at 1.8x10-40. The probabilities obtained in this study are sufficient for the monitoring and effective management of the genetic diversity of roe deer in Poland and is a cost-effective complementary tool for forensic applications.