Genetic Diversity and Origin of Chinese Domestic Goats Revealed by Complete mtDNA D-loop Sequence Variation

R Y Liu,S H Liu,G S Yang,C Z Lei

doi:10.5713/ajas.2007.178

Abstract

China has numerous native domestic goat breeds, but so far there has been no extensive study on genetic diversity, population demographic history, and origin of Chinese goats. To determine the origin and genetic diversity of Chinese goats, we analyzed the complete mtDNA D-loop sequences of 183 goats from 13 breeds. The haplotype diversity value found in each breed ranged from 0.9333 to 1.0000. The nucleotide diversity value ranged from 0.006337 to 0.025194. Our results showed that there were four mtDNA lineages (A, B, C and D), in which lineage A was predominant, lineage B was moderate, and lineages C and D were at low frequencies. Lineages C and D were observed only in the Tibetan breed. The results revealed multiple maternal origins of Chinese domestic goats. There was weaker geographical structuring in the 13 Chinese goat populations, which suggested that there existed high gene flow among goat populations caused by the extensive transportation of goats in the course of history.

Highlights

The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is the most adaptable and geographically widespread livestock species
We have examined 183 complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences
The haplotype diversity value found in each breed ranged from 0.9333 in the Banjiao to 1.0000 in the Chengdu Ma, Jianchang Black, Huanghuai, Neimonggol 76.50% and 20.77%, respectively

Summary

Introduction

The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is the most adaptable and geographically widespread livestock species. Archaeological evidence indicates that the goat was one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans around 10,000 years ago at the dawn of the Neolithic period in the Fertile Crescent (Porter, 1996; Pringle, 1998), whereas some studies have suggested that an independent domestication in Pakistan gave rise to the Cashmere breeds (Porter, 1996). It has been suggested that at least two wild species of the genus Capra have contributed to the gene pool of domestic goats (Mannen et al, 2001).

Methods

Results

Conclusion