The Sequence Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA Revealed Some Major Centers of Horse Domestications: The Archaeologist’s Cut.

This research discusses the origins of horse domestication by analyzing mitochondrial DNA to identify primary centers of domestication. The researchers summarize current hypotheses, look at how horses evolved, and consider how domestication affected human civilization.

Hypotheses for Horse Domestication

• The researchers review popular hypotheses about when and where horses were first domesticated. The commonly accepted view suggests that initial domestication occurred in the Western part of the Eurasian steppes, between the Northern Black Sea region and what is now Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
• This domestication supposedly took place no earlier than the first half and most probably during the middle or even the last part of the fourth millennium BC, around 5.5 thousand years ago.

Expansion of Horse Breeding

• The research notes that significant horse breeding began nearly simultaneously in Eurasia and North Africa. This surge in breeding correlated with the growth and evolution of human social structures.
• Horses greatly influenced the progress of human civilization, as they were used for work, warfare, and transportation, changing the dynamics of societies around the world.

Morphological and Genetic Differences

• Despite our knowledge of horses’ historical significance, distinguishing between wild and domesticated horses remains difficult due to subtle morphological differences.
• Moreover, the authors suggest that the genetic introgression between wild and domestic variants is much speculated but not certain. This subtlety presents challenges for researchers looking for clear differentiation between the two types.

Sequence Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA

• The main objective of this review is to consolidate all scientific data regarding potential hypotheses for the earliest domestication of horses. Part of this process involves analyzing mitochondrial DNA sequences, which can trace matrilineal lineage and hence show the geographic origins and spread of domestication.
• The team highlights data corresponding to specific mitotypes at different historical periods, emphasizing the correlation between the presence of these mitotypes and concurrent human civilizations.