There are over 210 separate breeds of the domestic goat, Capra hircus, which are believed to be descended from the wild goat or bezoar (Capra aegagrus). Goats were one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans and were being herded over 9000 years ago. However, there has been little research into the intra species phylogeny of the genus Capra hircus, in particular with respect to differences in fibre structure, and therefore keratin gene sequences, between the different breeds. This project has involved a fundamental study into genetic differences between cashmere and mohair producing goats with the long term aim of developing a DNA test to differentiate between cashmere and mohair.