Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship between three serow species of the genus Capricornis based on the complete mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

Abstract

The molecular evidence of phylogenetic status regarding the Formosan serow (Capricornis swinhoei) is not robust and little is known about the genetic diversity of the Sumatran serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), which partly is due to the hardness in sample collection. Here we determined the sequences of the complete mitochondrial DNA control region (1,014 bp) of 19 Sumatran-serow individuals. Nine new haplotypes were defined based on 78 variable sites. Combined analysis with other 32 haplotypes downloaded from the public database, including 1 Sumatran-serow, 11 Formosan-serow and 20 Japanese-serow (Capricornis crispus) haplotypes, a relatively high level of nucleotide diversity was first observed in Sumatran serow (π = 0.0249). By comparative analysis with structural consensus sequences from other mammals, we have identified central, left and right domains and depicted the putative functional structure, including extend termination associated sequences and conserve sequence blocks, in mtDNA control region. The alignment of mtDNA control region revealed that both Sumatran and Japanese serow have two tandem repeats (TRs), but three TRs in Formosan serow. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Formosan serow is distinct species with the Japanese serow, but a sister group with the Sumatran serow. The divergence time estimated among three serow species revealed that Pleistocene climate changes and the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan plateau might play an important role in the genetic differentiation of the serows. These results mainly provide the convinced evidence on the genetic relationship between three serow species.

Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Evolution of Tibetan Sheep Based on mtDNA D-Loop Sequences

“…Gene flow ( N m ), also known as gene migration, refers to the transfer of alleles from one population to another. N m haplotype values >1 and N m sequences <1 indicate a poor gene exchange, such that genetic drift will result in substantial local differentiation [ 41 , 42 ]. The low G ST value, combined with the low N m of sequences used in this study, indicate that the great differentiation mainly resulted from the independent evolution of each isolated population and substantial local differentiation caused by the genetic drift [ 43 ].…”

Reclassification of the serows and gorals: the end of a neverending story?

“…More recently, there have been several studies based on mitochondrial DNA, but all of them -except Liu and Jiang (2017) for goral -have suffered from limited data, especially in terms of populations sampled (Min et al 2004, Hassanin et al 2009, Liu et al 2013, Dou et al 2016.…”

Phylogeography and Phylogenetic Evolution in Tibetan Sheep Based on MT-CYB Sequences

“…Gene flow (N m ) (also known as gene migration), refers to the transfer of alleles from one population to another. N m values for haplotype > 1 and for sequence < 1 indicate poor gene exchange, resulting in a situation whereby genetic drift will cause substantial differentiation in local populations [34,42]. In the present study, low F ST values indicate that genetic variations mainly resulted from independent evolution of the isolated populations, with substantial differentiation in local populations caused by genetic drift [43].…”