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Home / Equine Research Bank / Genes (Basel) / Genetic History of the Altai Breed Horses: From Ancient Time...
Genes2023; 14(8); doi: 10.3390/genes14081523

Genetic History of the Altai Breed Horses: From Ancient Times to Modernity.

Abstract: This study focuses on expanding knowledge about the genetic diversity of the Altai horse native to Siberia. While studying modern horses from two Altai regions, where horses were subjected to less crossbreeding, we tested the hypothesis, formulated on the basis of morphological data, that the Altai horse is represented by two populations (Eastern and Southern) and that the Mongolian horse has a greater genetic proximity to Eastern Altai horses. Bone samples of ancient horses from different cultures of Altai were investigated to clarify the genetic history of this horse breed. As a genetic marker, we chose hypervariable region I of mitochondrial DNA. The results of the performed phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of our and previously published data confirmed the hypothesis stated above. As we found out, almost all the haplotypes of the ancient domesticated horses of Altai are widespread among modern Altai horses. The differences between the mitochondrial gene pools of the ancient horses of Altai and Mongolia are more significant than between those of modern horses of the respective regions, which is most likely due to an increase in migration processes between these regions after the Early Iron Age.
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Publication Date: 2023-07-26 PubMed ID: 37628575PubMed Central: PMC10454587DOI: 10.3390/genes14081523Google 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.

The research article discusses a detailed genetic study conducted on the Altai horse breed native to Siberia, revealing links between the breed and ancient horses, as well as their relation to the Mongolian horse breed.

Objective of the Research

  • The main aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of the Altai horse breed found in Siberia. Specifically, the researchers wanted to explore horse populations in two regions of Altai where crossbreeding was minimal.
  • The researchers hypothesized that there are two distinct populations of the Altai horse breed (Eastern and Southern), and that the Eastern Altai horses share a closer genetic relationship with the Mongolian horse breed.

Methodology

  • To understand the genetic history better, the researchers examined bone samples of ancient horses from different cultures within the Altai regions.
  • The genetic marker used in the study was the hypervariable region I of mitochondrial DNA; an area known for its high mutation rates and thus, its suitability for tracing evolutionary and genetic relationships.

Findings

  • The phylogenetic and population genetic analyses supported their initial hypothesis. It was found that almost all the haplotypes (a combination of alleles at different places on a chromosome that are inherited together) of ancient domesticated Altai horses are still prevalent among their modern counterparts.
  • Interesting differences were observed when comparing the mitochondrial gene pools of ancient Altai and Mongolian horses with those of modern horses from the same regions. The researchers noted that the differences were more significant in the ancient populations than in the current ones, likely due to increased migration activity between these regions after the Early Iron Age.

Implications

  • The findings from this study significantly enhance our understanding of the genetic history and diversity of the Altai horse breed. It highlights the breed’s ancient genetic connections, and its distinct populations in the Eastern and Southern Altai regions.
  • The research also provides valuable insight into the patterns and impacts of inter-regional migration and crossbreeding on genetic diversity over time.

Cite This Article

APA
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. (2023). Genetic History of the Altai Breed Horses: From Ancient Times to Modernity. Genes (Basel), 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14081523

Publication

Genes
ISSN: 2073-4425
NlmUniqueID: 101551097
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 8

Researcher Affiliations

Kusliy, Mariya A
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Yurlova, Anna A
  • Laboratory of Genomics, Department of Regulation of Genetic Processes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Neumestova, Alexandra I
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Vorobieva, Nadezhda V
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Gutorova, Natalya V
  • Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Molodtseva, Anna S
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Trifonov, Vladimir A
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Popova, Kseniya O
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Polosmak, Natalia V
  • Paleometal Archeology Department, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Molodin, Vyacheslav I
  • Paleometal Archeology Department, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Vasiliev, Sergei K
  • Paleometal Archeology Department, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Semibratov, Vladimir P
  • Department of Archaeology, Ethnography and Museology, Altai State University, 656049 Barnaul, Russia.
Iderkhangai, Tumur-O
  • Department of Archaeology, Ulaanbaatar School, National University of Mongolia, 13343 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Kovalev, Alexey A
  • Department of Archaeological Heritage Preservation, Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117292 Moscow, Russia.
Erdenebaatar, Diimaajav
  • Department of Archaeology, Ulaanbaatar School, National University of Mongolia, 13343 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Graphodatsky, Alexander S
  • Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia.
Tishkin, Alexey A
  • Department of Archaeology, Ethnography and Museology, Altai State University, 656049 Barnaul, Russia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Hybridization, Genetic
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Genes, Mitochondrial
  • Haplotypes / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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