Abstract
Relationship among Tibetan cashmere goats, Inner Mongolia cashmere goats and Liaoning cashmere goats was studied using the technique of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). One primer and four primer combinations were screened. With the five primers and primer combinations, DNA fragments were amplified from the three breeds. Each breed has 28 samples. According to their RAPD fingerprint maps, the Nei's (1972) standard genetic distance was: 0.0876 between Tibetan cashmere goats and Inner Mongolia cashmere goats, 0.1601 between Tibetan cashmere goats and Liaoning cashmere goats, 0.0803 between the Inner Mongolia cashmere goats and Liaoning cashmere goats. It coincides with their geographic location. The genetic heterogeneity of Tibetan cashmere goats, Inner Mongolia cashmere goats and Liaoning cashmere goats is 0.3266, 0.2622 and 0.2475 respectively. It is also consistent with their development history.