Background:

Advances in molecular biology techniques, such as PCR testing, and the use of polymorphic sequences of mitochondrial DNA in the d-Loop region, have been frequently used to describe maternal lines in animals, especially in birds.

Aim.

To conduct a review of laboratory techniques applied to molecular genetics, and their importance in the preservation of zoogenetic resources.

Development:

Molecular markers, especially microsatellites, became more useful and profitable, as protocols and technology were optimized; genetic methods provide reliable information that helps in the preservation of zoogenetic resources, particularly when the most traditional methods are inadequate.

Conclusions:

The utilization of molecular techniques offers objective measurements of the diversity among, and inside races, which permits to study their genetic relations, and to provide evidence of unique genetic attributes or genetic isolation phenomena from the past.