Isolation and characterization of 16 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the red panda (<i>Ailurus fulgens</i>)

Abstract

Abstract A total of 15 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the red panda, Ailurus fulgens , were characterized in this study. Based on evaluations of 33 red pandas, the number of observed alleles for each locus ranged from seven to 17 and the expected and observed heterozygosities were 0.412–0.897 and 0.121–0.909, respectively. The mean polymorphic information content was 0.721. These markers would greatly strengthen the utilization of microsatellite tools in genetic variation studies in red panda populations.