“…Advantages of microsatellites are a high degree of polymorphism due to existence of several alleles at each locus, their large number, distribution throughout the genome, a high level of polymorphism, neutrality with respect to selection, codominant inheritance and easy automation of analytical procedures (Canon et al, 2006;Mohammadifar et al, 2009;Mohammadabadi et al, 2010). Several studies have investigated the genetic diversity in sheep using microsatellites (Buchanan and Thue, 1998;Esmaeilkhanian and Banabazi, 2006;Bhatia and Arora, 2007;Nanekarani et al, 2010;Sun et al, 2010;Jakaria et al, 2012;Musthafa Muneeb et al, 2012;Hepsibha et al, 2013;Crispim et al, 2014), but a study of all Iranian sheep together has not been performed until now. Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity within and between 14 sheep types in Iran (Kermani, Pakistani, Lori, Arabi, Dalagh, Baluchi, Iran-Black, Gharegol, Arman, Lori-Bakhtiari, Kermani-Pakistani, KermaniRomanov, Lori-Bakhtiari-Romanov and Lori-BakhtiariPakistani) using five microsatellite markers and to measure the distance among these breeds.…”