The analysis of genetic diversity and differentiation of six Chinese cattle populations using microsatellite markers.

A total of 321 individuals from six cattle populations of four species in a bovine subfamily in China were studied using 12 pairs of microsatellite markers. The genetic diversities within and between populations were calculated. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by (delta mu)(2) and DA distances, and the divergence times between populations were estimated by (delta mu)(2). Altogether, 144 microsatellite alleles were detected including 24 private alleles and nine shared alleles. Chinese Holstein had the largest number of private alleles (10), whereas, Bohai black and Buffalo had the smallest number of private alleles (2). Chinese Holstein showed the highest genetic variability. Its observed number of alleles (Na), mean effective number of alleles (MNA), and mean heterozygosity (He) were 7.7500, 4.9722, and 0.7719, respectively, whereas, the Buffalo and Yak showed low genetic variability. In the phylogenetic trees, Luxi and Holstein grouped first, followed by Bohai and Minnan. Yak branched next and buffalo emerged as the most divergent population from other cattle populations. Luxi and Bohai were estimated to have diverged 0.039-0.105 million years ago (MYA), however, buffalo and Holstein diverged 0.501-1.337 MYA. The divergence time of Yak versus Minnan, Holstein and buffalo was 0.136-0.363, 0.273-0.729, and 0.326-0.600 MYA, respectively.

Mao Y ，Chang H ，Yang Z ，Zhang L ，Xu M ，Chang G ，Sun W ，Song G ，Ji D ... -  《Journal of Genetics and Genomics》

Genetic structure and differentiation of three Chinese indigenous cattle populations.

Levels of genetic differentiation, gene flow, and genetic structure of three indigenous cattle populations (Luxi, Bohai, and Minnan) and two reference cattle populations (Chinese Holstein and Qinhai yak) in China were estimated using the information from 12 microsatellites, and 141 microsatellite alleles were identified. The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 2.9005 in yak to 4.9722 in Holstein. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.5325 (yak) to 0.7719 (Holstein); 29 private alleles were detected. The global heterozygote deficit across all populations amounted to 58.5% (p < 0.001). The overall significant (p < 0.001) deficit of heterozygotes because of inbreeding within breeds amounted to 43.2%. The five cattle populations were highly differentiated (F (st) = 26.9%, p < 0.001) at all loci. The heterozygote deficit within the population was highest in Luxi cattle and lowest in yak. The average number of effective migrants exchanged per generation was highest (1.149) between Luxi and Holstein, and lowest (0.509) between Luxi and yak. With the application of prior population information, cluster analysis achieved posterior probabilities from 91% to 98% of correctly assigning individuals to populations. Combining the information of cluster analysis, gene flow, and Structure analysis, the five cattle populations belong to three genetic clusters, a taurine (Luxi and Chinese Holstein), a zebu (Bohai and Minnan), and a yak cluster. This indicates that Bohai black is closer to Bos indicus than Luxi cattle. The evolution and development of three indigenous cattle populations are discussed.

Mao Y ，Chang H ，Yang Z ，Zhang L ，Xu M ，Sun W ，Chang G ，Song G ... -  《BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS》

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 and differentiation of Chinese domestic buffalo based on 30 microsatellite markers.

To determine genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships among Chinese buffalo populations, 18 indigenous swamp buffalo populations and two introduced river buffalo breeds were genotyped for 30 microsatellite loci. The mean number of alleles across the 30 loci was 8.13, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.517 (Yanjin) to 0.609 (Dehong). Although there was abundant genetic variation, genetic differentiation between Chinese buffalo populations was low, with only 2.8% of the total genetic variance among populations. The genetic differentiation pattern and genetic relationships among Chinese buffalo populations were consistent with their geographic distribution. The Dehong population was discerned as a distinct indigenous population, but suffered genetic admixture with river buffalo. The remaining populations were divided into four major clusters, i.e. the Upper and Middle Reaches of Yangtze Valley cluster (Guizhou, Guizhoubai, Yanjin, Fuling, Enshi and Jianghan), the Lower Reaches of Yangtze Valley cluster (Haizi, Shanqu and Dongliu), the South China cluster (Fuan and Xinfeng) and the Southwest China cluster (Xinglong, Xilin, Diandongnan and Dechang).

Zhang Y ，Sun D ，Yu Y ，Zhang Y ... -  《-》

Prioritization for conservation of northern European cattle breeds based on analysis of microsatellite data.

Northern European indigenous cattle breeds are currently endangered and at a risk of becoming extinct. We analyzed variation at 20 microsatellite loci in 23 indigenous, 3 old imported, and 9 modern commercial cattle breeds that are presently distributed in northern Europe. We measured the breeds' allelic richness and heterozygosity, and studied their genetic relationships with a neighbor-joining tree based on the Chord genetic distance matrix. We used the Weitzman approach and the core set diversity measure of Eding et al. (2002) to quantify the contribution of each breed to the maximum amount of genetic diversity and to identify breeds important for the conservation of genetic diversity. We defined 11 breeds as a "safe set" of breeds (not endangered) and estimated a reduction in genetic diversity if all nonsafe (endangered) breeds were lost. We then calculated the increase in genetic diversity by adding one by one each of the nonsafe breeds to the safe set (the safe-set-plus-one approach). The neighbor-joining tree grouped the northern European cattle breeds into Black-and-White type, Baltic Red, and Nordic cattle groups. Väne cattle, Bohus Poll, and Danish Jersey had the highest relative contribution to the maximum amount of genetic diversity when the diversity was quantified by the Weitzman diversity measure. These breeds not only showed phylogenetic distinctiveness but also low within-population variation. When the Eding et al. method was applied, Eastern Finncattle and Lithuanian White Backed cattle contributed most of the genetic variation. If the loss of the nonsafe set of breeds happens, the reduction in genetic diversity would be substantial (72%) based on the Weitzman approach, but relatively small (1.81%) based on the Eding et al. method. The safe set contained only 66% of the observed microsatellite alleles. The safe-set-plus-one approach indicated that Bohus Poll and Väne cattle contributed most to the Weitzman diversity, whereas the Eastern Finncattle contribution was the highest according to the Eding et al. method. Our results indicate that both methods of Weitzman and Eding et al. recognize the importance of local populations as a valuable resource of genetic variation.

Tapio I ，Värv S ，Bennewitz J ，Maleviciute J ，Fimland E ，Grislis Z ，Meuwissen TH ，Miceikiene I ，Olsaker I ，Viinalass H ，Vilkki J ，Kantanen J ... -  《CONSERVATION BIOLOGY》