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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Genetic diversity and population structure of three traditio...
PloS one2018; 13(6); e0199376; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199376

Genetic diversity and population structure of three traditional horse breeds of Bhutan based on 29 DNA microsatellite markers.

Abstract: The genetic variability and population structure of three Bhutanese traditional horse breeds were assessed through genotyping of 74 horses (Boeta 25, Sharta 14 and Yuta 35) for 29 microsatellite DNA loci. Altogether, 282 alleles were detected across 29 polymorphic loci. The allelic diversity (NE) (Boeta 4.94; Sharta 4.65; Yuta 5.30) and gene diversities (HE) (Boeta 0.78; Sharta 0.77; Yuta 0.79) were high. None of the breeds deviated significantly from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no sign of significant population bottleneck for all the breeds. The inbreeding estimates (FIS) of the breeds were low (Boeta 0.023; Sharta 0.001; Yuta 0.021). Analysis of molecular variance showed 0.6% of the total genetic variation among breeds, 1.9% among individuals and 97.5% within individuals. The global FIT, FST, and FIS estimates for the population were 0.025, 0.006 and 0.019 respectively. The analysis of population structure failed to distinguish subpopulations in traditional horses and this was supported by a high genetic exchange among the breeds. Overall, the results of this study suggest a rich genetic diversity in the traditional horse despite a very low genetic differentiation among the breeds in Bhutan.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-27 PubMed ID: 29949614PubMed Central: PMC6021118DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199376Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study investigates the genetic variation and the population structure of three traditional horse breeds in Bhutan through DNA microsatellite analysis.

Objective of the Study

  • The main goal of this research was to understand the genetic diversity and population structure of three traditional Bhutanese horse breeds namely Boeta, Sharta, and Yuta.

Methodology

  • A total of 74 horses from the three breeds were genotyped using 29 microsatellite DNA markers.
  • Altogether, 282 alleles were detected across the polymorphic loci assessed.
  • A series of statistical parameters including allelic diversity, gene diversities, and inbreeding estimates were calculated for each breed.
  • Techniques such as Analysis of Molecular Variance were employed to get a deeper understanding of the genetic variations among and within the horse breeds.

Key Findings

  • The allelic diversity (NE) and gene diversities (HE) were significantly high in all breeds indicating a rich genetic variability.
  • All studied breeds aligned with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which suggests that the populations are genetically stable with no significant evolutionary change.
  • No significant population bottleneck effect was noted. This is crucial as a bottleneck effect can lead to a rapid decrease in genetic diversity.
  • Inbreeding estimates, which are indicative of genetic mixing through continuous breeding within the same line, were found to be low for all studied breeds.
  • The majority of genetic variation observed was within individuals (97.5%), with a minimal variation among breeds (0.6%) and among individuals (1.9%).
  • The low global FIT, FST, and FIS estimates for the population indicate negligible inbreeding or population subdivisions within these horse breeds.
  • There was no distinct subpopulation identification among the traditional horse breeds, implying a high level of genetic exchange between them.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that despite minimal genetic differentiation among the different horse breeds in Bhutan, there is a rich inherent genetic diversity within the population as a whole.

Cite This Article

APA
Dorji J, Tamang S, Tshewang T, Dorji T, Dorji TY. (2018). Genetic diversity and population structure of three traditional horse breeds of Bhutan based on 29 DNA microsatellite markers. PLoS One, 13(6), e0199376. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199376

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
Pages: e0199376
PII: e0199376

Researcher Affiliations

Dorji, Jigme
  • National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Tamang, Sonam
  • National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Tshewang, Tshewang
  • National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Dorji, Tshering
  • National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Dorji, Tashi Yangzome
  • National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.

MeSH Terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Bhutan
  • Breeding
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genetics, Population
  • Genotype
  • Horses
  • Microsatellite Repeats

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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