Characteristic of Przewalski horses population from Askania-Nova reserve based on genetic markers.
Abstract: Przewalski horses are considered the last living population of wild horses, however, they are secondarily feral offspring of herds domesticated ~ 5000 years ago by the Botai culture. After Przewalski horses were almost extinct at the beginning of the twentieth century, their population is about 2500 individuals worldwide, with one of the largest breeding centers in Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine). The research aimed to establish the maternal variation of Przewalski horses population maintained in Askania-Nova Reserve based on mitochondrial DNA hypervariable 1 and hypervariable 2 regions profiling, as well as, analysis of Y chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism unique for Przewalski horses, and coat color markers: MC1R and TBX3. The mtDNA hypervariable regions analysis in 23 Przewalski horses allowed assigning them to three distinctly different haplotypes, showing the greatest similarity to the Equus caballus reference, the Equus przewalskii reference, and to extinct species-Haringtonhippus. The Y chromosome analysis using fluorescently labelled assays differentiated horses in terms of polymorphism (g731821T>C) characteristic of Equus przewalskii. All male individuals presented genotype C characteristics for Przewalski horses. The polymorphisms within the coat color genes indicated only native, wild genotypes. The Y chromosome and coat color analysis denied admixtures of the tested horses with other Equidae.
© 2023. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2023-06-26 PubMed ID: 37365410PubMed Central: PMC10374732DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08581-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research focused on analyzing the genetic diversity of the Przewalski horse population in the Askania-Nova Reserve in Ukraine. The researchers used different genetic markers to establish variations in global population of these horses and confirmed there were no mix with other horse breeds.
Study Objective and Method
- This study’s main aim was to understand the genetic diversity of the Przewalski horse population in the Askania-Nova Reserve. The investigation is important because Przewalski horses are considered the last true wild horses.
- The researchers used different genetic markers to assess this variation. Notably, they examined mitochondrial DNA, Y chromosome polymorphisms, and coat color markers.
- The researchers analyzed 23 Przewalski horse specimens to conduct the investigations.
Findings and Conclusion
- The mitochondrial DNA analysis allowed the researchers to assign the Przewalski population to three distinct haplotypes. This identified a high level of genetic diversity within the population.
- The examination of the Y chromosome using fluorescently labelled assays differentiated horses in terms of a particular polymorphism characteristic of the Przewalski horse.
- All male individuals tested showed the genotype C characteristics which is typical for Przewalski horses. This confirms the absence of cross-breeding, or “admixtures”, with other horse populations, preserving the lineage’s purity.
- Moreover, the coat color genes also only indicated native genetic types. This observation, too, contradicts the possibility that the horses have been interbred with other species.
- Overall, the study underlines the genetic uniqueness of the Przewalski horse population maintained in Askania-Nova Reserve and stresses the necessity for the continued protection of this species, which has been on the brink of extinction in the past.
Cite This Article
APA
Musiał AD, Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Myćka G, Bieniek A, Yasynetska N.
(2023).
Characteristic of Przewalski horses population from Askania-Nova reserve based on genetic markers.
Mol Biol Rep, 50(8), 7121-7126.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08581-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland. adrianna.musial@iz.edu.pl.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- Biosphere Reserve Askania-Nova, Kherson region, 75230, Ukraine.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / genetics
- Male
- Genetic Markers / genetics
- Genotype
- Ukraine
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
- Haplotypes / genetics
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
Grant Funding
- 0211/DIA/2019/48 / Ministerstwo Edukacji i Nauki
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
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