Genetic diversity and population structure of indigenous yellow cattle breeds of China using 30 microsatellite markers.

Twenty-seven domesticated yellow cattle breeds of China and three introduced cattle breeds were analysed by means of 30 microsatellite markers to determine the level of genetic variation within and among populations as well as the population structure. In all, 480 microsatellite alleles were observed across the 30 breeds with the mean number of alleles per locus of 9.093 for native breeds and 6.885 for the three introduced breeds. Mean F-statistics (0.08) for Chinese native cattle breeds implied that 92% of the total genetic variation was from genetic differentiation within each breed and 8% of the genetic variation existed among breeds. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on Nei's genetic distances, and three clusters were obtained. According to the tree, the three introduced breeds were distinct from the 27 native breeds. The indigenous cattle breeds were divided into two clusters, one cluster including five humpless breeds and the other cluster containing 22 humped breeds. This study identifies multiple origins of yellow cattle of China from Bos taurus and Bos indicus. Furthermore, population structure analysis implies that there are possibly five independent original domestications for yellow cattle in China. Four of five origins were four different Bos indicus types, mainly in areas of the Chang Jiang, the Zhu Jiang River basin, the Yellow River and the Huai River basin. The other origin was for Bos taurus type of Mongolian descent, mainly located in Northwestern China, the Mongolian plateau and Northeastern China or north of the Great Wall.

Zhang GX ，Wang ZG ，Chen WS ，Wu CX ，Han X ，Chang H ，Zan LS ，Li RL ，Wang JH ，Song WT ，Xu GF ，Yang HJ ，Luo YF ... -  《-》

Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of Chinese yak breeds (Bos grunniens) using microsatellite markers.

Nine Chinese yak breeds (Maiwa, Tianzhu White, Qinghai Plateau, Sibu, Zhongdian, Pali, Tibetan High Mountain, Jiulong, and Xinjiang) and Gayal were analyzed by means of 16 microsatellite markers to determine the level of genetic variation within populations, genetic relationship between populations, and population structure for each breed. A total of 206 microsatellite alleles were observed. Mean F-statistics (0.056) for 9 yak breeds indicated that 94.4% of the genetic variation was observed within yak breeds and 5.6% of the genetic variation existed amongst breeds. The Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic tree was constructed based on Nei's standard genetic distances and two clusters were obtained. The Gayal separated from the yaks far away and formed one cluster and 9 yak breeds were grouped together. The analysis of population structure for 9 yak breeds and the Gayal showed that they resulted in four clusters; one cluster includes yaks from Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, one cluster combines Zhongdian, Maiwa, and Tianzhu White, and Jiulong and Xinjiang come into the third cluster. Pali was mainly in the first cluster (90%), Jiulong was mainly in the second cluster (87.1%), Zhongdian was primarily in the third cluster (83%), and the other yak breeds were distributed in two to three clusters. The Gayal was positively left in the fourth cluster (99.3%).

Zhang G ，Chen W ，Xue M ，Wang Z ，Chang H ，Han X ，Liao X ，Wang D ... -  《Journal of Genetics and Genomics》

Genetic diversity of microsatellite loci in fifty-six Chinese native pig breeds.

The genetic diversity of fifty-six indigenous pig breeds in China, and three introduced pig breeds (Duroc, Landrace and Large White) was surveyed using twenty-seven microsatellites recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics (IS-AG) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). By means of the allele frequencies, mean heterozygosity, effective number of alleles, estimator of gene differentiation, polymorphism information content, genetic distance and dendrogram analysis, the genetic variability and population structure of native pig breeds were estimated. Genetic variabilities within native pig breeds are as follows: Effective number of alleles vary from 2.12 to 9.03, from 0.44 to 0.87 for mean heterozygosity, from 0.39 to 0.86 for polymorphism information content. Nei's genetic distance and Nei's standard genetic distance were estimated and used to construct UPGMA and NJ dendrograms, which were evaluated by the bootstrap test. Fifty-six Chinese indigenous pig breeds were clustered into twelve groups based on the dendrogram. Compared with the classification in Pig Breeds in China, I, II and III groups in the study are equivalent to North-China type, IV group basically accords with Lower-Changjiang River Basin type, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX groups quite correspond with Central-China type, X and XI group largely correspond to South-China type, the last group, XII is equal to South-west type at large. Suggestions that the conservation farms together with conservation areas are appropriate methods for the preservation of native pig breeds in our country were proposed. The results could provide basic molecular data for the research on the germplasm characteristics of local breeds in our country and scientific basis for the conservation and utilization of those breeds.

Zhang GX ，Wang ZG ，Sun FZ ，Chen WS ，Yang GY ，Guo SJ ，Li YJ ，Zhao XL ，Zhang Y ，Sun J ，Fan B ，Yang SL ，Li K ... -  《-》

Microsatellite analysis reveals high genetic diversity but low genetic structure in Ethiopian indigenous cattle populations.

Ethiopian cattle are under threat from uncontrolled mating practices and are at high risk of becoming genetically homogeneous. Therefore, to evaluate genetic diversity, population structure and degree of admixture, 30 microsatellite markers were genotyped using 351 DNA samples from 10 Ethiopian cattle populations and the Holstein breed. The mean number of alleles per cattle population ranged from 6.93 +/- 2.12 in Sheko to 7.50 +/- 2.35 in Adwa. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.674 +/- 0.015 and 0.726 +/- 0.019 respectively. Ethiopian cattle populations have maintained a high level of within-population genetic differentiation (98.7%), the remainder being accounted for by differentiation among populations (1.3%). A highly significant deficiency in heterozygotes was detected within populations (F(IS) = 0.071; P < 0.001) and total inbreeding (F(IT) = 0.083; P < 0.001). The study populations were highly admixed but distinct from pure Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds. The various levels of admixture and high genetic diversity make Ethiopian cattle populations suitable for future genetic improvement and utilization under a wide range of agro-ecologies in Ethiopia.

Dadi H ，Tibbo M ，Takahashi Y ，Nomura K ，Hanada H ，Amano T ... -  《-》

Genetic variation of mitochondrial D-loop region and evolution analysis in some Chinese cattle breeds.

The complete mitochondrial D-loop region from 123 individuals in 12 Chinese cattle breeds and two individuals in Germany Yellow cattle breed was sequenced and analyzed. The results were shown as follows: 93 variations and 57 haplotypes were detected, and the average number of nucleotide difference was 22.708, nucleotide diversity (d) was 0.0251 +/- 0.00479, and haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.888 +/- 0.026, indicating very high genetic diversity in Chinese cattle breeds. In the Neighbor-Joining tree, 13 cattle breeds were divided into two main clades, Bos taurus and Bos indicus; new Clade ? had only one sequence from Apeijiaza cattle breed in Tibet, which was similar to that of yak at a higher level than other cattle breeds, proving the introgression of genes from the yak. The proportions of Bos taurus and Bos indicus were 64.3% and 35.7% respectively in Xigazê Humped cattle breed, and 50.0% and 50.0% respectively in Apeijiaza cattle breed, which revealed that Tibet cattle included Bos indicus haplotypes. The importance of Yunnan cattle in the origin of Chinese cattle was also confirmed based on their abundant haplotypes. Then, a very special haplotype i1 discovered in 27 Chinese cattle breeds, including 11 breeds in this study and 16 breeds in the GenBank, played the role of a nucleus in Chinese zebu and was further discussed. At the same time, the construction of Chinese zebu core group based on haplotype i1 validated the distinct origin of Bos indicus in Tibet, which was different from that of the other cattle breeds with zebu haplotypes in China.

Jia S ，Chen H ，Zhang G ，Wang Z ，Lei C ，Yao R ，Han X ... -  《Journal of Genetics and Genomics》