Materials and Methods: A total of chicken 100 microsatellite markers were selected from chicken linkage maps. DNAs of pigeons and a chicken as a positive control were used to amplify specific genomic regions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting PCR products were separated by capillary electrophoresis and allele genotypes were determined. In a pilot study, general population parameters including number of allele (Na), observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities and deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) were calculated for 24 positive loci in a pigeon population.

Results: A total of 48 microsatellite loci were amplified (48%) in pigeon DNA and expected PCR products were observed. In the pilot study, alleles numbers varied 1-5 and mean Na was 2.5 for 24 loci. A total of 60 different alleles were determined. Ho and He values were observed as 0.000- 1.000 and 0.000-0.698, respectively.

Conclusion: Although Na and polymorphism levels were lower in general, results of this study suggested that chicken microsatellite loci can be used in genetic studies of pigeons.