Mitochondrial D-loop sequence variation among Italian horse breeds.
Abstract: The genetic variability of the mitochondrial D-loop DNA sequence in seven horse breeds bred in Italy (Giara, Haflinger, Italian trotter, Lipizzan, Maremmano, Thoroughbred and Sarcidano) was analysed. Five unrelated horses were chosen in each breed and twenty-two haplotypes were identified. The sequences obtained were aligned and compared with a reference sequence and with 27 mtDNA D-loop sequences selected in the GenBank database, representing Spanish, Portuguese, North African, wild horses and an Equus asinus sequence as the outgroup. Kimura two-parameter distances were calculated and a cluster analysis using the Neighbour-joining method was performed to obtain phylogenetic trees among breeds bred in Italy and among Italian and foreign breeds. The cluster analysis indicates that all the breeds but Giara are divided in the two trees, and no clear relationships were revealed between Italian populations and the other breeds. These results could be interpreted as showing the mixed origin of breeds bred in Italy and probably indicate the presence of many ancient maternal lineages with high diversity in mtDNA sequences.
Publication Date: 2004-10-22 PubMed ID: 15496286PubMed Central: PMC2697199DOI: 10.1186/1297-9686-36-6-663Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper analyzes the genetic diversity of the mitochondrial D-loop DNA sequence in seven horse breeds raised in Italy. It suggests a mixed origin for these breeds and the probable existence of many ancient maternal lineages with considerable divergence in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences.
Objective of the Study
The main objective of the study revolves around understanding the genetic variability of the mitochondrial D-loop DNA sequence in seven horse breeds bred in Italy, namely Giara, Haflinger, Italian trotter, Lipizzan, Maremmano, Thoroughbred, and Sarcidano.
Methodology
- Researchers selected five unrelated horses from each breed for this study.
- They identified twenty-two haplotypes and aligned the sequences for analysis.
- These identified sequences were then compared with a reference sequence and 27 other mtDNA D-loop sequences sourced from the GenBank database. These selected sequences represent breeds from Spain, Portugal, North Africa, and wild horse populations, with Equus asinus (donkey) serving as an outgroup.
- Experts computed Kimura two-parameter distances, commonly used in bioinformatics to detect genetic differences.
- The researchers also performed a cluster analysis using the Neighbour-joining method, a popular method for constructing phylogenetic trees, to trace the genetic lineage and relationships among the different breeds.
Findings
- The cluster analysis results indicated that all horse breeds, with the exception of Giara, were divided into two trees. This division implies the genetic diversity within and among the breeds.
- The study did not reveal clear or definitive relationships between the Italian horse populations and other breeds included for the comparison.
- Based on these findings, researchers inferred a mixed-lineage origin for the Italian horse breeds.
- Moreover, the results probably suggest the existence of many ancient maternal lineages involving high diversity in mtDNA sequences.
Conclusion
The featured study elucidates the genetic diversity within and among horse breeds in Italy. The findings enlarge our understanding of horse evolution and suggest a complex, mixed origin for Italian breeds, possibly involving multiple maternal lineages. Although the research does not establish clear links with other horse breeds, it denotes the high diversity in their mtDNA sequences.
Cite This Article
APA
Cozzi MC, Strillacci MG, Valiati P, Bighignoli B, Cancedda M, Zanotti M.
(2004).
Mitochondrial D-loop sequence variation among Italian horse breeds.
Genet Sel Evol, 36(6), 663-672.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9686-36-6-663 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
- Genetic Variation
- Horses / genetics
- Italy
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Giontella A, Cardinali I, Pieramati C, Cherchi R, Biggio GP, Achilli A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. A Genetic Window on Sardinian Native Horse Breeds through Uniparental Molecular Systems. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 1;10(9).
- Lancioni H, Cardinali I, Giontella A, Antognoni MT, Miglio A. Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse. PeerJ 2020;8:e8996.
- Cozzi MC, Strillacci MG, Valiati P, Rogliano E, Bagnato A, Longeri M. Genetic variability of Akhal-Teke horses bred in Italy. PeerJ 2018;6:e4889.
- 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.
- Cardinali I, Lancioni H, Giontella A, Capodiferro MR, Capomaccio S, Buttazzoni L, Biggio GP, Cherchi R, Albertini E, Olivieri A, Cappelli K, Achilli A, Silvestrelli M. An Overview of Ten Italian Horse Breeds through Mitochondrial DNA. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0153004.
- Khanshour AM, Cothran EG. Maternal phylogenetic relationships and genetic variation among Arabian horse populations using whole mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequencing. BMC Genet 2013 Sep 13;14:83.
- Crisà A, Cardinali I, Giontella A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H, Buttazzoni L. A Genetic Make Up of Italian Lipizzan Horse Through Uniparental Markers to Preserve Historical Pedigrees. Biology (Basel) 2024 Dec 23;13(12).
- Kang Z, Shi J, Liu T, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Liu Z, Wang J, Cheng S. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data and mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 nucleotide sequence reveal the origin of the Akhal-Teke horse. Anim Biosci 2023 Oct;36(10):1499-1507.
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