Coat color variation at the beginning of horse domestication.
Abstract: The transformation of wild animals into domestic ones available for human nutrition was a key prerequisite for modern human societies. However, no other domestic species has had such a substantial impact on the warfare, transportation, and communication capabilities of human societies as the horse. Here, we show that the analysis of ancient DNA targeting nuclear genes responsible for coat coloration allows us to shed light on the timing and place of horse domestication. We conclude that it is unlikely that horse domestication substantially predates the occurrence of coat color variation, which was found to begin around the third millennium before the common era.
Publication Date: 2009-04-25 PubMed ID: 19390039PubMed Central: PMC5102060DOI: 10.1126/science.1172750Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Historical Article
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses how the study of ancient DNA related to coat coloration in horses can help determine the timing and location of horse domestication, suggesting that it’s unlikely that horse domestication significantly predated the emergence of coat color variation around the third millennium BCE.
Study Objective and Approach
- The primary aim of the research is to explore the time and place of horse domestication through an analysis of ancient DNA targeted at nuclear genes. These genes are responsible for the variations in the coat color of horses.
- Modern human societies are known to have transformed wild animals into domestic ones for consumption purposes, but the horse is the only domestic species that greatly impacted warfare, transportation, and communication within human societies. The research seeks to uncover the historical context of domestication focusing on the horse’s evolutionary genetics.
Key Findings
- Findings indicate that horse domestication likely did not significantly precede the emergence of coat color variations. These variations began to appear around the third millennium before the common era (BCE). This suggests that the onset of horse domestication might be tied closely, chronologically, with this significant genetic change.
Implications of the Research
- This research has significant implications for understanding the timeline of horse domestication and human history. By establishing a link between the emergence of coat color variations and the timing of domestication, the researchers provide a new perspective on the evolutionary development of domesticated horses.
- Understanding the dynamics of horse domestication also helps shed light on the roles of domesticated horses in various aspects of human society, including warfare, transportation, and communication throughout human history.
Future Research Directions
- This study has opened up new avenues for further research. For instance, future studies could delve deeper into the relationship between genetic changes in horses and their domestication procedures and how this influenced the evolution of human societies.
Cite This Article
APA
Ludwig A, Pruvost M, Reissmann M, Benecke N, Brockmann GA, Castaños P, Cieslak M, Lippold S, Llorente L, Malaspinas AS, Slatkin M, Hofreiter M.
(2009).
Coat color variation at the beginning of horse domestication.
Science, 324(5926), 485.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172750 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10252 Berlin, Germany. ludwig@izw-berlin.de
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / history
- Animals
- Biological Evolution
- Breeding
- DNA
- Europe
- Genetic Variation
- Hair Color / genetics
- History, Ancient
- Horses / genetics
- Siberia
Grant Funding
- R01 GM040282 / NIGMS NIH HHS
References
This article includes 7 references
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Citations
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