Nyoni, Nellia Felicity2021-11-222021-11-222020http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3071A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science)Keratins are structural intermediate filamentous proteins that constitute about 90% of the total wool fiber in sheep. The protein gene family is divided into two groups which are the Keratin Intermediate-Filament proteins (KRTs) and the Keratin-Associated proteins (KAPs). The KRTs form the skeletal structure of the wool fiber (micro-fibrils) and are embedded in a matrix of KAPs through disulphide cross-linkages. Genetic variation in the keratin genes may be associated with pelt quality traits. Pelt quality is determined by the unique hair formation, which is determined by these protein genes. High demand of exceptional pelts by the fashion industry, has probed this study in determining genetic variation in Keratin genes (KAP1.1, KAP1.3, KAP3.2) and KRT33A). The study also examined allele frequency distribution of the keratin genes in Swakara sheep in Namibia. Blood samples were collected from 168 Swakara sheep randomly selected from four farms; Neudamm, Gellap-Ost, Kalahari and Tsumis. Genomic Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated using the Inqaba biotech-kit protocol. Extracted genomic DNA was confirmed using a Nano drop and amplified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Genetic variation was assessed using PCR-Agarose gel electrophoresis in the KAP1.1 gene. As for the KAP1.3, KAP3.2 and KRT33A, genetic variation was assessed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). Sequenced keratin genes under investigation and those retrieved from NCBI were grouped together and used to construct phylogenetic trees on Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) version 6.0. At the KAP1.1 locus, the study revealed three alleles; A, B and C with genotype frequencies of 0.13, 0.57 and 0.30, respectively. Mostly the B allele frequency was highly distributed in comparison to the A and C alleles. At the KAP1.1 locus, the study reports statistical significant difference in allele frequency distribution amongst the four farms (P=0.004). The KAP3.2 locus had one allele identified across all four farms and denoted as A. The KAP1.3 locus was statistically significant at P=0.160 with genotype frequencies of 0.5 (AA), 0.35 (AB) and 0.15 (CC). The KRT33A locus was not statistically significant (P=0.402), and had 0.25 (A) and 0.75 (B) allele frequency. The four genes under study showed no significant deviation from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium. The findings of this study which reports genetic variation in the KAP1.1, KAP1.3 and KRT33A has the potential to help with the identification of genetic markers linked to superior pelts. The use of genetic markers in the selection of Swakara sheep breeding program would potentially increase the accuracy of selection, and compliment visual appraisal technique that is currently being used in the Swakara sheep industry.enPelt qualitySwakaraAllele frequencyKeratin genesPolymorphismThesis