In order to identify polymorphic microsatellite markers and evaluae genetic variation within Baluchi sheep population, nineteen microsatellite loci were studied. Whole Blood samples were collected from 156 sheep at north eastern animal breeding station of Iran (Abbasabad-Mashhad). DNA was extracted by salting-out procedure with some modifications. Polymerase chain reactions were successfully done except for UNC5C locus. PCR products were electrophoresed on 8% denaturing polyacrylamide gels stained according to rapid silver staining procedure. The genotype and allelic frequencies were calculated by direct counting and used for estimating of different polymorphism and genetic variation criteria. This population wasn't at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except for OarAE101 locus (P<0.005). Heterozygosity (gene variation) ranged from 0.1 to 0.93. BULGE5E and BM1329 loci were monomorphic. In conclusion, this investigation showed high polymorphism at the studied loci, so they could be used in future studies.

Keywords: Balouchi sheep, Polymorphism, Microsatellite markers, Heterozygosity.

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