Mitochondrial DNA diversity and the origin of Chinese indigenous sheep

Abstract

Large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences data from previous studies were investigated to obtain genetic information which contributes to a better understanding of the genetic diversity and history of modern sheep. In this study, we analyzed mtDNA D-loop sequences of 963 individuals from 16 Chinese indigenous breeds that distributed seven geographic regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all three previously defined haplogroups A, B, and C were found in all breeds among different regions except in Southwest China mountainous region, which had only the A and B haplogroups. The weak phylogeographic structure was observed among Chinese indigenous sheep breeds distribution regions and this could be attributable to long-term strong gene flow among regions induced by the human migration, commercial trade, and extensive transport of sheep. The estimation of demographic parameters from mismatch analyses showed that haplogroups A and B had at least one demographic expansion of indigenous sheep in China.

Strong and stable geographic differentiation of swamp buffalo maternal and paternal lineages indicates domestication in the China/Indochina border region

“…The geographic differentiation of mtDNA in the Chinese swamp buffalo is strong also in comparison with other livestock species in China, such as sheep (Zhao et al 2013), pigs (Huo et al 2016) and horses (Yue et al 2012), but is comparable to the situation in goats (Zhao et al 2014). For Chinese cattle, the strong phylogeographic structure (Lenstra et al 2014) reflects the presence of both taurine and zebu, cross-fertile species that are as divergent as swamp and river buffalo .…”

“…The geographic differentiation of mtDNA in the Chinese swamp buffalo is strong also in comparison with other livestock species in China, such as sheep (Zhao et al . ), pigs (Huo et al . ) and horses (Yue et al .…”

Conservation genetics in Chinese sheep: diversity of fourteen indigenous sheep (Ovis aries) using microsatellite markers

“…The strong gene flow among regions induced by human migration, commercial trade, and the extensive transport of sheep was identified by the variability of mtDNA (Zhao et al. 2013) in China. Therefore, we could not conclude that there were two domestication sites or shared common ancestors in the China mainland according to the clustering diagrams.…”

“…For a similar case, the Group 1 breeds, which represents an independent cluster, had a breed that was sampled over a large geographic region in the Chinese mainland and were not only separated into independent clusters but also carried a common large-complex genetic background, which indicated the general exchange of genetic material. The strong gene flow among regions induced by human migration, commercial trade, and the extensive transport of sheep was identified by the variability of mtDNA (Zhao et al 2013) in China. Therefore, we could not conclude that there were two domestication sites or shared common ancestors in the China mainland according to the clustering diagrams.…”

Endogenous Retroviral Insertions Indicate a Secondary Introduction of Domestic Sheep Lineages to the Caucasus and Central Asia between the Bronze and Iron Age

“…Previous ancient DNA analyses of archaeological sheep remains have focused on mitochondrial haplotypes [4,11,12,13,14] and compared them to maternal lineages of modern sheep [15,16,17,18,19,20,21]. Of special importance are the mitochondrial haplogroups A and B, which dominate in domestic sheep of eastern Asia and western Eurasia, respectively.…”