Analysis on Genetic Diversity in Breeding Populations of Python bivittatus

Genetic diversity of breeding populations of Burmese python (Python bivittatus) were investigated using microsatellite DNA loci. The study showed that 76 alleles were detected among 42 sampled individuals, the average number of effective allele was 578, average of expected heterozygosity was 0815, and average of PIC was 078. It was indicated that all the 8 loci were highly polymorphic, and only 3 loci were obviously departured from HardyWeinberg equilibrium High level of genetic diversities was represented in breeding popution of Python bivittatus) in Hainan. Mutationdrift equilibrium tests indicated that loci with significantly heterozygote excesses in populations, and the population was not obviously departured from mutationdrift equilibrium. It might indicate that the population did not suffer bottleneck effects in recent time, and no significant decline in the number of populations.