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Animal genetics2018; 49(1); 90-93; doi: 10.1111/age.12635

Asian horses deepen the MSY phylogeny.

Abstract: Humans have shaped the population history of the horse ever since domestication about 5500 years ago. Comparative analyses of the Y chromosome can illuminate the paternal origin of modern horse breeds. This may also reveal different breeding strategies that led to the formation of extant breeds. Recently, a horse Y-chromosomal phylogeny of modern horses based on 1.46 Mb of the male-specific Y (MSY) was generated. We extended this dataset with 52 samples from five European, two American and seven Asian breeds. As in the previous study, almost all modern European horses fall into a crown group, connected via a few autochthonous Northern European lineages to the outgroup, the Przewalski's Horse. In total, we now distinguish 42 MSY haplotypes determined by 158 variants within domestic horses. Asian horses show much higher diversity than previously found in European breeds. The Asian breeds also introduce a deep split to the phylogeny, preliminarily dated to 5527 ± 872 years. We conclude that the deep splitting Asian Y haplotypes are remnants of a far more diverse ancient horse population, whose haplotypes were lost in other lineages.
Publication Date: 2018-01-15 PubMed ID: 29333704DOI: 10.1111/age.12635Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research focuses on the genetic diversity among horse breeds, with a special focus on Asian horses. It studies the Y-chromosomal phylogeny of modern horses and how different breeding strategies over time have led to the diversity seen in existing horse breeds.

Context and Objectives

The researchers delve into the history of horse population, shaped significantly by human interventions in breeding since domestication roughly 5500 years ago. Their study aims to:

  • Illuminate the paternal origin of modern horse breeds, primarily through comparative analysis of the Y chromosome.
  • Discover different breeding strategies that resulted in the formation of extant breeds.

Methodology

Researchers expanded upon a previous dataset based on 1.46 Mb of the male-specific Y (MSY) chromosome by adding 52 samples from numerous global breeds:

  • Five European horse breeds
  • Two American horse breeds
  • Seven Asian horse breeds

Findings

Following the trend observed in the prior study, almost all modern European horses fall into a single prominent group, linked through a few native Northern European lineages to the Przewalski’s Horse, an ancestral outgroup.

  • In total, 42 MSY haplotypes are now distinguished, determined by 158 variants within domestic horses.
  • Asian horses exhibit significantly higher diversity than that previously observed in European breeds.

Conclusions

The research introduced a deep split to horse phylogeny, with a preliminary date set to around 5527 ± 872 years. The scientists posited that the deep-splitting Asian Y haplotypes are remnants of a much more diverse ancient horse population. Over time, the diverse haplotypes were lost in other lineages but managed to persist in Asian breeds, illustrating the rich genetic heritage of these horses. The study thus highlights the crucial role of Asian horses in understanding the history and genetic diversity of modern horse breeds.

Cite This Article

APA
Felkel S, Vogl C, Rigler D, Jagannathan V, Leeb T, Fries R, Neuditschko M, Rieder S, Velie B, Lindgren G, Rubin CJ, Schlötterer C, Rattei T, Brem G, Wallner B. (2018). Asian horses deepen the MSY phylogeny. Anim Genet, 49(1), 90-93. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12635

Publication

ISSN: 1365-2052
NlmUniqueID: 8605704
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 90-93

Researcher Affiliations

Felkel, S
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, Vienna, Austria.
Vogl, C
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Rigler, D
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Jagannathan, V
  • Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Leeb, T
  • Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Fries, R
  • Lehrstuhl für Tierzucht, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany.
Neuditschko, M
  • Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm, Avenches, Switzerland.
Rieder, S
  • Agroscope, Swiss National Stud Farm, Avenches, Switzerland.
Velie, B
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Lindgren, G
  • Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rubin, C-J
  • Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Schlötterer, C
  • Institut für Populationsgenetik, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Rattei, T
  • Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Computational Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Brem, G
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Wallner, B
  • Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Domestication
  • Horses / classification
  • Horses / genetics
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Y Chromosome

Grant Funding

  • W 1225 / Austrian Science Fund FWF

Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
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