This study describes genetic variability in the leptin in Iranian native, Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle (Bos Indicus and Bos Taurus). This is the first study of genetic polymorphism of the leptin gene in Iranian native cattle. We examined exon 2 of the leptin gene from 587 individuals in six different populations of Iranian native cattles (86 Sarabi, 66 Taleshi, 94 Sistani, 76 Golpayegani, 104 Brown Swiss and 161 Holstein cattle) using PCR-RFLP method. Analysis of the frequencies of the various alleles in each breed indicated that allele C in Sarabi, Taleshi, Sistani, Golpayegani, Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle with 68, 55, 69, 71, 55 and 57% value were the most frequent alleles. Observed heterozygosities were highest in Golpayegani (57.89%). These new data suggest that allele frequencies of leptin differ between the various Iranian cattle breeds.

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