Diversity of mitochondrial D-loop haplotypes from ancient Thracian horses in Bulgaria.
Abstract: The domestication of the horse began possibly more than 5000 years ago in the western part of the Eurasian steppe, and according to the leading hypothesis, horses first spread from the Steppe toward the region of the Thracian culture, starting in the second half of the 2nd millennium BCE and flourished from the fifth to first centuries BCE, mainly located in present-day Bulgaria. We analyzed 17 horse bone remains excavated from Thracian archaeological sites (fourth to first centuries BCE) in Bulgaria and successfully identified 17 sequences representing 14 different haplotypes of the mitochondrial D-loop. Compared with the mtDNA haplotypes of modern horses around the world, ancient Thracian horses in Bulgaria are thought to be more closely related to modern horses of Southern Europe and less related to those of Central Asia. In addition, the haplotypes we obtained represented 11 previously reported modern horse mtDNA haplogroups: A, B, D, E, G, H, I, L, N, P, and Q. All the haplogroups contain modern and regionally predominant haplotypes occurring in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Our results indicate that Thracian horses in Bulgaria have had relatively high genetic diversity and are closely related to modern horse breeds.
© 2023 Japanese Society of Animal Science.
Publication Date: 2023-01-31 PubMed ID: 36717086DOI: 10.1111/asj.13810Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research involves an analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of ancient Thracian horses in Bulgaria to explore their genetic diversity and relatedness to modern horse breeds.
Background
- The researchers focus on the Thracian culture, which thrived from the fifth to first centuries BCE, predominantly in present-day Bulgaria.
- The domestication of horses likely began more than 5000 years ago in the western part of the Eurasian steppe.
- The primary hypothesis suggests that horses first spread from this Steppe region towards Thracia around the second half of the second millennium BCE.
Methodology
- The team analysed bone remains from 17 horses uncovered at Thracian archaeological sites in Bulgaria, estimated to be from the fourth to first centuries BCE.
- Their analysis focused on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) particularly the D-loop, a segment that controls the replication of mitochondria. This was chosen due to its high mutation frequency, which makes it effective for studying genetic diversity.
Findings
- Out of the 17 horse bone remains, the scientists were able to successfully identify 17 sequences representing 14 different D-loop haplotypes, or distinct DNA variations.
- These haplotypes were compared to those of modern horses from around the world, with ancient Thracian horses found to be closer genetically to horses from Southern Europe than those from Central Asia.
- The study also identified 11 haplogroups—large groups of related haplotypes—previously reported in modern horses including A, B, D, E, G, H, I, L, N, P, and Q. All these haplogroups contain the mtDNA of modern and typically predominant horse breeds in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that the ancient Thracian horses in Bulgaria exhibited relatively high genetic diversity.
- Additionally, these horses were found to be closely related to certain modern horse breeds, highlighting an interesting genetic lineage.
Cite This Article
APA
Nishita Y, Amaike Y, Spassov N, Hristova L, Kostov D, Vladova D, Peeva S, Raichev E, Vlaeva R, Masuda R.
(2023).
Diversity of mitochondrial D-loop haplotypes from ancient Thracian horses in Bulgaria.
Anim Sci J, 94(1), e13810.
https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13810 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
- National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
- National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Horses / genetics
- Animals
- Bulgaria
- Haplotypes / genetics
- Phylogeny
- Mitochondria / genetics
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
- Genetic Variation
Grant Funding
- Joint Research Project Grant / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- The Thracians: Genesis and Development of the Ethn / Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
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