Genetic diversity and population structure of Kazakh horses (Equus caballus) inferred from mtDNA sequences.
Abstract: The Kazakh horse is an important old horse breed in Xinjiang. They have contributed greatly to the breeding and improvement of other local horse breeds, yet their genetic diversity and population structure are not well understood. In the present study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of Kazakh horses and their relationship with other horse breeds using the mtDNA D-loop region, Cyt b gene, and a DNA fragment (nps 7974-9963, containing COX3, tRNA-Gly, ND3, and tRNA-Arg). A total of 130 Kazakh horses from 8 populations in China and Kazakhstan were analyzed. A total of 88 haplotypes (haplotype diversity: 0.9895) were identified, in which 3 haplotypes were shared by groups in the two countries. In a median-joining network, 6 haplogroups were found, in which most haplogroups included haplotypes from different populations. Neighbor-joining analysis revealed similar results in that haplotypes in different populations were admixed in most of the 6 clusters. In conclusion, a high level of genetic diversity was found in the Kazakh horses. However, no clear correspondence between haplogroups and geographic origin and no significant differentiation between populations in the two countries were observed. This might have resulted from the frequent contact between the two countries through the Silk Road in the past, or due to long-term outcrossing and hybridization with the introduced horses.
Publication Date: 2016-10-05 PubMed ID: 27808359DOI: 10.4238/gmr.15048618Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of Kazakh horses, an old breed found predominantly in Xinjiang. Using mtDNA sequences, the study analyzed 130 horses from different populations in China and Kazakhstan to better understand their genetic makeup and relationship with other breeds.
Methodology
- The study focused on evaluating the genetic diversity of Kazakh horses by analyzing their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) – specifically, the D-loop region, Cyt b gene, and a DNA fragment which includes COX3, tRNA-Gly, ND3, and tRNA-Arg.
- A total of 130 Kazakh horses were included in the analysis, sourced from 8 different populations in China and Kazakhstan.
Findings
- From the samples, 88 different haplotypes (a group of genes within an organism that are inherited from a single parent) were identified. A high level of haplotype diversity was recorded (0.9895), indicating a vast genetic diversity within Kazakh horses.
- Among these haplotypes, 3 were shared by groups from both China and Kazakhstan. This means that some of the genetic materials in Kazakh horses from these two countries are identical.
- In a process labeled ‘median-joining network’, a total of 6 haplogroups (a group of similar haplotypes) were found. Importantly, most of these groups included haplotypes from different populations.
- Neighbor-joining analysis—a method used for grouping similar data—also found the admixture of haplotypes in most of the 6 clusters, again revealing that there’s no significant differentiation between the Kazakh horse populations in China and Kazakhstan.
Conclusion
- The study found a high level of genetic diversity in Kazakh horses, with no clear correspondence between the haplogroups and the geographic origin of the horses.
- The researchers did not find significant differentiation between Kazakh horse populations in the two countries.
- This lack of differentiation could be a result of significant contact between China and Kazakhstan via the Silk Road in the past. Other factors that might have contributed include long-term outcrossing and hybridization with introduced horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Gemingguli M, Iskhan KR, Li Y, Qi A, Wunirifu W, Ding LY, Wumaierjiang A.
(2016).
Genetic diversity and population structure of Kazakh horses (Equus caballus) inferred from mtDNA sequences.
Genet Mol Res, 15(4).
https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15048618 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, China.
- Department of Animal Science, Kazakhstan National Agrarian University, Almaty, The Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Institute of Arid Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.
- Genomics Laboratory of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, China.
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, China.
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, China wumaier@tom.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Breeding
- DNA, Mitochondrial / chemistry
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
- Gene Regulatory Networks
- Genetic Variation
- Genetics, Population
- Haplotypes / genetics
- Horses / genetics
- Kazakhstan
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Phylogeny
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Lancioni H, Cardinali I, Giontella A, Antognoni MT, Miglio A. Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse. PeerJ 2020;8:e8996.
- Zhang C, Ni P, Ahmad HI, Gemingguli M, Baizilaitibei A, Gulibaheti D, Fang Y, Wang H, Asif AR, Xiao C, Chen J, Ma Y, Liu X, Du X, Zhao S. Detecting the Population Structure and Scanning for Signatures of Selection in Horses (Equus caballus) From Whole-Genome Sequencing Data. Evol Bioinform Online 2018;14:1176934318775106.
- Khaudov AD, Duduev AS, Kokov ZA, Amshokov KK, Zhekamukhov MK, Zaitsev AM, Reissmann M. Genetic analysis of maternal and paternal lineages in Kabardian horses by uniparental molecular markers. Open Vet J 2018;8(1):40-46.
- Toishimanov M, Zhanten O, Kanat R, Beishova I, Ulyanov V, Assanbayev T, Sharapatov T, Daurov D, Daurova A, Sapakhova Z, Nametov A, Shamekova M. The Effects of the Lactation Period, Mare Age, and Foaling on the Chemical and Physical Composition of Milk from Kazakh Mares Kept Under Natural Pasture Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 19;15(12).
- Agbani A, Aminou O, Machmoum M, Germot A, Badaoui B, Petit D, Piro M. A Systematic Literature Review of Mitochondrial DNA Analysis for Horse Genetic Diversity. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 20;15(6).
- Assanbayev T, Akilzhanov R, Sharapatov T, Bektayev R, Samatkyzy D, Karabayev D, Gabdulkayum A, Daniyarov A, Rakhimova S, Kozhamkulov U, Sarbassov D, Akilzhanova A, Kairov U. Whole genome sequencing and de novo genome assembly of the Kazakh native horse Zhabe. Front Genet 2024;15:1466382.
- Orazymbetova Z, Ualiyeva D, Dossybayev K, Torekhanov A, Sydykov D, Mussayeva A, Baktybayev G. Genetic Diversity of Kazakhstani Equus caballus (Linnaeus, 1758) Horse Breeds Inferred from Microsatellite Markers. Vet Sci 2023 Sep 30;10(10).
- Kusliy MA, Yurlova AA, Neumestova AI, Vorobieva NV, Gutorova NV, Molodtseva AS, Trifonov VA, Popova KO, Polosmak NV, Molodin VI, Vasiliev SK, Semibratov VP, Iderkhangai TO, Kovalev AA, Erdenebaatar D, Graphodatsky AS, Tishkin AA. Genetic History of the Altai Breed Horses: From Ancient Times to Modernity. Genes (Basel) 2023 Jul 26;14(8).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
