Development of Novel SNP Assays for Genetic Analysis of Rare Minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) in a Successive Generation Closed Colony

Abstract

The complex genetic architecture of closed colonies during successive passages poses a significant challenge in the understanding of the genetic background. Research on the dynamic changes in genetic structure for the establishment of a new closed colony is limited. In this study, we developed 51 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) and conducted genetic diversity and structure analyses in five successive generations of a closed colony using 20 SNPs. The range of mean Ho and He in five generations was 0.4547–0.4983 and 0.4445–0.4644, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the Ne, Ho, and He (p > 0.05) between the five closed colony generations, indicating well-maintained heterozygosity. The F-statistics analysis revealed a relatively stable genetic structure of the closed colony. Furthermore, the genetic distance between the newer and older generations increased with the breeding generations in closed colonies. Our results confirmed previous findings in the same samples using microsatellite markers. The results will be beneficial for establishing genetic variability monitoring criteria and restoration of the wild population of the rare minnow and other laboratory fish.