Genetic variation in the feral horses of the Namib Desert, Namibia

Genetic variation at 7 blood-group and 10 biochemical genetic loci was examined in 30 horses from a feral herd from the Namib Desert of Namibia, Africa. The observed genetic variability was extremely low compared with that found in domestic horse breeds. The low variation was most probably a result of recent small population size and a small founding population size. Genetic comparison of the Namib horses, which were of unknown origins, to domestic horse breeds, showed that the Namib horses had the highest genetic similarity to Arabian type horses, although they did not closely resemble this type of horse in conformation.     

Genetic analysis of three South African horse breeds

Genetic variability at 7 blood-group and 10 biochemical genetic loci was examined in 3 South African horse breeds, the Nooitgedacht, Boerperd and Basuto Pony. Observed heterozygosity for these breeds was intermediate for domestic horses, with the highest heterozygosity in the Boerperd and the lowest in the Basuto Pony. The 3 breeds show greater genetic similarity to each other than to other domestic horse breeds. Compared to other breeds, the South African breeds show greater genetic similarity to breeds such as the Thoroughbred, Holstein, Trakehner and Hanovarian and also to North American breeds such as the Saddlebred, Standardbred and Morgan Horse.     

Genetic relationships in Swiss sheep breeds based on microsatellite analysis

Genetic relationships between Swiss sheep breeds were estimated on the basis of microsatellite analysis. In addition to the Swiss breeds wild-type Mouflon was included in this investigation. Polymerase chain reaction amplifications of 31 ovine, bovine and caprine microsatellites were performed in a total of 307 animals representing eight populations. The average heterozygosity within each population was high in the domestic breeds (0.60–0.71) and lower in Mouflon 0.45. The average coefficient of gene differentiation G _ST over all loci was 0.17, i.e. a small part of the variability at the 31 microsatellite loci analysed must be ascribed to between-breed variability. Genetic distances between breeds were obtained, which were used to construct a phylogenetic tree. Microsatellites developed from closely related species of cattle and goat are useful for estimating genetic relationships among sheep breeds.     

Molecular characterization and differentiation of five horse breeds raised in Algeria using polymorphic microsatellite markers

In this study, genetic analyses of diversity and differentiation were performed on five horse breeds raised in Algeria (Barb, Arab‐Barb, Arabian, Thoroughbred and French Trotter). All microsatellite markers were highly polymorphic in all the breeds. A total of 123 alleles from 14 microsatellite loci were detected in 201 horses. The average number of alleles per locus was the highest in the Arab‐Barb horses (7.86) and lowest in the thoroughbred breed (5.71), whereas the observed and expected heterozygosities per breed ranged from 0.71 (Thoroughbred) to 0.752 (Barb) and 0.71 (Thoroughbred) to 0.77 (Arab‐Barb), respectively. The genetic differentiation between the breeds was significant (p < 0.01) based on the infinitesimal model (F_ST). Three different approaches for evaluating the genetic relationships were applied. Genetic distances, the factorial correspondence analysis and structure analysis showed that a significant amount of genetic variation is maintained in the native horse populations and the other breeds. The Barb and Arab‐Barb breeds seem to be the most genetically related and support the decision to consider the breeds as same population.     

Analysis of relationships between German heavy horse breeds based on pedigree information

We analysed the relationship coefficients (R) between the four German heavy horse breeds South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Schleswig Draught Horse and Black Forest Draught Horse. The relationship coefficient makes it possible to ascertain crossbreeding between the breeds over time, or autonomous developments of the breeds, respectively. The investigation revealed that the relationship coefficients between the German draught horse breeds were very low. The mean relationship coefficients between the four German heavy horse breeds were largest between the South German Coldblood and Schleswig Draught Horse (0.103%), whereas mean relationship coefficients were lowest between the Rhenish German and Black Forest Draught Horse (0.001%). The Rhenish German Draught Horse showed largest relationship coefficients with the Schleswig Draught Horse (0.09%), while the Black Forest Draught Horse was mostly related to the South German Coldblood (0.06%). The results reveal the presence of very few common progenitors of the breeds. The gene flow between the breeds is primarily due to crossbreeding of stallions and, especially, in the Rhenish German Draught Horse population breeding with a few mares from other German draught horse breeds.     

Genetic characterisation of the Uruguayan Creole horse and analysis of relationships among horse breeds

The genetic variability within the Uruguayan Creole horse and its relationship to a group of geographically or historically related breeds (Spanish Pure-bred, Barb, Quarter horse, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, Arabian and Thoroughbred horse), was evaluated using 25 loci (seven of blood groups, nine of protein polymorphisms and nine microsatellites) analyzed on a total of 145 Uruguayan Creole horses. In this study, blood group and protein polymorphism variants that are considered to be breed markers of Spanish Pure-bred and Barb horses were detected in the Creole breed. Conversely, some microsatellites and protein polymorphisms alleles were found uniquely in the Creole horse. American horse breeds together with Barb and Arabian horses clearly formed a separate cluster from the Spanish pure-bred and Thoroughbred breeds, as shown by an UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei's standard genetic distance. Data in this study provided evidence for considerable genetic variation within Uruguayan Creole horses and of a distinctive breed profile. Both traits were most likely inherited from the XVIth century Spanish horses, more closely related to Barb than to Spanish Pure-bred.     

平湖浆蜂与苏王1号遗传多样性的微卫星DNA分析

利用6对微卫星DNA标记对平湖浆蜂与苏王1号两个蜜蜂品种进行遗传多样性分析，评估品种内的遗传变异和品种间的遗传分化。结果表明：共检测到40个等位基因，每个位点的等位基因数从4~10不等，所有位点平均的期望杂合度和多态信息含量值分别为0.5078和0.4708。平湖浆蜂和苏王1号6个微卫星位点平均有效等位基因数分别为5.67和5.17，平均基因杂合度为0.4981和0.5007，群体分化系数为3.7％，2个品种间的Reynolds’遗传距离和Nm分别为0.03770和6.507。2个蜜蜂品种均表现出较高的群体杂合度和丰富的遗传多样性。     

Phylogenetic relationships of German heavy draught horse breeds inferred from mitochondrial DNA D-loop variation

Summary We analysed a 610-bp mitochondrial (mt)DNA D-loop fragment in a sample of German draught horse breeds and compared the polymorphic sites with sequences from Arabian, Hanoverian, Exmoor, Icelandic, Sorraia and Przewalski's Horses as well as with Suffolk, Shire and Belgian horses. In a total of 65 horses, 70 polymorphic sites representing 47 haplotypes were observed. The average percentage of polymorphic sites was 11.5% for the mtDNA fragment analysed. In the nine different draught horse breeds including South German, Mecklenburg, Saxon Thuringa coldblood, Rhenisch German, Schleswig Draught Horse, Black Forest Horse, Shire, Suffolk and Belgian, 61 polymorphic sites and 24 haplotypes were found. The phylogenetic analysis failed to show monophyletic groups for the draught horses. The analysis indicated that the draught horse populations investigated consist of diverse genetic groups with respect to their maternal lineage.     

Genetic structure of Norwegian horse breeds

The evaluation of the genetic structure of four native Norwegian horse breeds was investigated using 35 genetic markers including nine biochemical loci and 26 microsatellites. The proportion of genetic variation measured as heterozygosity and the number of alleles indicated high variation in Fjord Horse and Coldblooded Trotter, but somewhat reduced variation in Døle Horse. No clear signs of bottleneck effects were found in either of the breeds, but significant inbreeding estimates in Nordland/Lyngen Horse may indicate subdivision of this breed. Significant population differentiation was detected between all breeds, also between the recently diverged Døle Horse and Coldblooded Trotter. The principal component analysis supports the close genetic relationship between these two breeds.     

3个品种兔微卫星标记的遗传多样性研究

为分析福建黄兔、新西兰兔、日本大耳白兔群体内的遗传变异情况和群体间的遗传相关性,本试验选取3个品种兔各25只,分别耳静脉采血并采用试剂盒抽提全血基因组,运用15个微卫星标记,结合荧光PCR技术和毛细管电泳方法获得目的片段,通过计算等位基因数、有效等位基因数、杂合度、多态信息含量和遗传距离,分析3个品种兔的遗传多样性。结果显示,3个品种兔在15个座位共检测到110个等位基因,平均等位基因数为7.3个,其中福建黄兔、新西兰兔和日本大耳白兔分别检测到95、95和88个等位基因,且分别在11、12和11个微卫星座位表现为高度多态,表明3个品种兔在筛选的15个微卫星座位均呈现较丰富的遗传多态信息。Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡检验结果表明,福建黄兔、新西兰兔和日本大耳白兔分别有8、8和6个座位处于Hardy-Weinberg不平衡状态。Nei氏遗传距离分析显示,福建黄兔与新西兰兔、福建黄兔与日本大耳白兔、新西兰兔与日本大耳白兔的Nei氏遗传距离分别为0.1761、0.2347和0.0432。遗传距离越小时,相似度越高,亲缘关系越近,因此,新西兰兔与日本大耳白兔间的亲缘关系最近,福建黄兔与日本大耳白兔间的亲缘关系最远。     

4个地方绵羊品种系统发生关系的微卫星分析

试验旨在研究地方绵羊品种的遗传变异,为种质资源评价、保护和利用提供理论数据。利用5个微卫星标记分析4个地方绵羊品种的遗传多样性,根据等位基因组成及频率进行群体遗传统计分析;基于品种间标准遗传距离(Ds)和Nei氏遗传距离,分别构建UPGMA系统发生树。4个地方绵羊品种共检测到70个等位基因,各位点等位基因数(Na)在10~18之间;4个地方绵羊品种平均有效等位基因数(Ne)为3.81~5.68个,平均多态信息含量(PIC)为0.6152~0.7373,平均遗传杂合度(H)为0.6711~0.7820;4个地方绵羊品种间遗传分化系数为0.0847,标准遗传距离(Ds)和Nei氏遗传距离晋中绵羊与乌珠穆沁羊为最大(0.5775、0.6126),小尾寒羊与乌珠穆沁羊为最小(0.1542、0.1955),首先小尾寒羊与乌珠穆沁羊聚为一类,晋中绵羊与广灵大尾羊聚为另一类,然后两类聚在一起形成一大类。结果表明,4个地方绵羊品种遗传变异大、多样性丰富;品种间遗传分化小,但小尾寒羊和乌珠穆沁羊与晋中绵羊和广灵大尾羊间已有明显分化。选择的5个微卫星座位均为高度多态位点,可作为有效遗传标记用于绵羊品种遗传多样性和系统发生关系分析。各地方绵羊品种分子聚类关系与其形成史、分化及地理分布基本一致。     

江苏省野生及家养中华蜜蜂微卫星DNA遗传多样性分析

利用8对微卫星标记对江苏省野生及家养中华蜜蜂群体遗传多样性进行分析，评估群体内的遗传变异和群体间的遗传分化，结果表明，共检测到31个等位基因，每个位点的等位基因数从1～7不等，平均等位基因数为3.875；所有位点平均的期望杂合度和PIC值分别为0.4424和0.4054。野生及家养中华蜜蜂群体8个微卫星位点平均有效等位基因数分别为3.83和4.17，平均基因杂合度为0.0778和0.0993，两个群体均表现出较低的群体杂合度和遗传多样性。群体分化系数为4.9%（P<0.001），两个群体的Reynolds’遗传距离和Nm值分别为0.05024和4.852。江苏省野生及家养中华蜜蜂群体均表现出较低的群体杂合度和遗传多样性水平，且有相互交流的迹象。     

利用微卫星标记对4个肉牛品种进行遗传多样性分析

本研究利用10个微卫星标记分析了鲁西黄牛、布莱凯特肉牛、渤海黑牛和日本和牛4个品种185个个体的品种内遗传变异情况及各品种间的亲缘关系,共检测到58个等位基因,每个位点平均观察等位基因数为5.8个,从4(BM1818)到8个(ETH225和TGLA53)不等;有效等位基因数为2.5417～3.5849个;观察杂合度、期望杂合度和多态信息含量变异范围分别为0.2270～0.5459、0.6082～0.7230和0.5482～0.6791,均属高度多态性位点。群体间遗传分化明显,有34.49%的遗传分化来自群体间的变异。以Nei氏遗传距离(D_A)构建UPGMA系统进化树,聚类结果表明,渤海黑牛与鲁西黄牛首先聚为一类,布莱凯特肉牛和日本和牛聚为一类。布莱凯特肉牛的3个微卫星座位10个克隆的PCR扩增片段测序获得的序列已提交GenBank,登录号分别为：GQ368896、GQ368897、GQ368898、GQ368899、GQ368900、GQ368901、GQ368902、GQ368903、GQ368904、GQ368905。10对微卫星座位可作为有效的遗传标记用于4个肉牛品种的遗传多样性和系统发生关系分析。     

Genetic variability following selection for scrapie resistance in six autochthonous sheep breeds in the province of Bolzano (northern Italy)

Scrapie is an ovine transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, and its susceptibility is associated with polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP). Genetic selection is currently the most effective mean for eradication of the susceptible VRQ allele in favour of resistant ARR allele. Maintenance of genetic diversity should be one of the major objectives in breeding programmes, especially in endangered breeds, and genetic information are an excellent alternative to pedigree data where these information are missing. The aim of our study was to determine changes of genetic variability in six native sheep breeds from autonomous province of Bolzano, northern Italy, following simulation of scrapie selection scenarios. A total of 684 rams were investigated for PRNP polymorphisms and for 10 microsatellite loci to estimate genetic variability. Across all loci, a total of 163 alleles were detected with a mean of 10.4 alleles per locus. Average observed (Ho) and unbiased expected (uHe) heterozygosity overall loci were 0.74 and 0.78, respectively, showing a statistically significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in all breeds. This heterozygosity deficit was confirmed by a positive fixation index (Fis), determining a moderate inbreeding in each breed. Simulating a soft selection, where only rams having at least a VRQ allele should be excluded from reproduction, Ho, uHe and Fis values remained almost unchanged, indicating that genetic variability should not be affected by the removal of these individuals. With a mild selection scenario, considering only rams with at least one ARR allele, we observed a decrease in the mean alleles per breed (8.9) and the maintenance of heterozygosity deficiency, except for two breeds, where it was any longer significant. These results showed that selection strategies allowing use of heterozygous as well homozygous ARR rams might be the right compromise to improve resistance to scrapie and to do not dramatically affect genetic variability of these breeds.     

利用微卫星标记研究贵州矮马和伊犁马的遗传多样性

试验通过9个微卫星座位对贵州矮马和伊犁马2个品种共84匹马进行了遗传多样性检测,以8%非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离PCR扩增产物,并用银染法显色,计算各微卫星位点的等位基因频率、有效等位基因数(Ne)、杂合度(H)和多态信息含量(PIC)。结果表明,9个微卫星座位中COR059检出的变异最大,AHT040的变异最小;伊犁马的Ne、H和PIC的平均值高于贵州矮马;2个群体的平均遗传分化系数为0.041。说明2个品种都有丰富的遗传多样性,贵州矮马的基因较伊犁马更为纯合。     

利用微卫星分析中国家兔的遗传多样性

利用10个微卫星DNA标记对7个家兔品种(9个群体)进行了遗传检测。结果表明:所选择的10个微卫星位点在所检测群体中均表现了较好的多态性,平均多态信息含量为0.569905。平均杂合度范围在0.5885～0.6826。表明所研究的家兔品种的遗传多样性较丰富,还可以做进一步的选择利用。根据遗传距离所做的聚类分析图表明,吉戎-Ⅰ系和吉戎-Ⅱ系、哈尔滨大白兔、塞北兔的亲缘关系依次较近,与它们的培育历史相吻合。     

Analysis of genetic diversity and the determination of relationships among western Mediterranean horse breeds using microsatellite markers

The distribution of genetic diversity and the genetic relationships among western Mediterranean horse breeds were investigated using microsatellite markers. The examined sample included seven Spanish and three Italian local horse breeds and populations, plus a Spanish Thoroughbred outgroup. The total number of animals examined was 682 (on average 62 animals per breed; range 20–122). The microsatellite marker set analysed provided 128 alleles (10.7 alleles per locus). Within‐breed genetic diversity was always high (>0.70), with breeds contributing about 8% of the total genetic variability. The mean molecular coancestry of the entire population examined was 0.205, Losino being the breed that contributed most. In addition to Nei's standard and Reynolds’ genetic distances, pair‐wise kinship distance and molecular coancestry were estimated. Remarkably similar breed rankings were obtained with all methods. Clustering analysis provided an accurate representation of the current genetic relationships among the breeds. Determining coancestry is useful for analysing genetic diversity distribution between and within breeds and provides a good framework for jointly analysing molecular markers and pedigree information. An integrated analysis was undertaken to obtain information on the population dynamics in western Mediterranean native horse populations, and to better determine conservation priorities.     

Genetic parameters estimation in an Italian horse native breed to support the conversion from agricultural uses to riding purposes

Horses are nowadays mainly used for sport and leisure purposes, and several local breeds, traditionally used in agriculture, are exposed to the risk of extinction. The long-term survival of local horse breeds depends on strategies to both monitor their genetic diversity and to find their sustainable role in the equine market. Thus, several local horse breeds need to adapt their breeding objective to allow a modernization process. The Bardigiano is an example of such horse breeds; we, therefore, studied the existing evaluation protocol from a genetic standpoint to assess the protocol's suitability to convert the Bardigiano from an agricultural to a riding horse. To this end, we estimated genetic parameters for four conformation measurements, ten grading traits and 23 linear traits. For conformation measurements, the heritabilities ranged from 0.31 for cannon bone circumference to 0.63 for height at withers. For conformation and attitude grading traits, the highest heritability (0.34) was estimated for development and the lowest (0.09) for gaits. The heritabilities for linear traits ranged from 0.05 for the leg straightness to 0.32 for the coat colour. Genetic correlations between linear traits and corresponding grading traits varied considerably, ranging from −0.42 to 0.98. This study showed that the current evaluation protocol in the Bardigiano horse is appropriate for genetic evaluation. Genetic parameters estimation can, in turn, be used to develop novel breeding values to help this conversion. Our study paves the way to optimize the Bardigiano horse breeding programme, and it may help several other local horse breeds experiencing similar issues.     

九州意蜂与肥东意蜂微卫星标记研究

利用5对微卫星DNA标记对安徽九州意蜂与肥东意蜂两个品种进行分析,评估品种内的遗传变异和品种间的遗传分化。结果共检测到28个等位基因,所有位点平均的PIC值和期望杂合度分别为0.5510和0.5764。九州意蜂与肥东意蜂5个微卫星位点平均有效等位基因数分别为5.4和5.0,平均期望杂合度为0.5014和0.4979,两个蜜蜂品种均表现出较高的群体杂合度和丰富的遗传多样性。     

利用微卫星分析康西草原马匹种群的遗传多样性和群体结构

旨在揭示康西草原马匹的品种来源以及群体遗传结构。本研究采集了当地60匹健康状况良好、体重适中、3～6岁之间不区分公母马的血液样品,试验分为6个种群并以纯血马等4个国外马品种、1个我国地方马品种作为对照， 通过设计引物并提取基因组DNA结合微卫星扩增法对染色体上12个微卫星位点的等位基因进行检测，并对各种群遗传多样性参数、群体分化指数、瓶颈效应以及群体结构进行分析。试验按照群体个数为依据分为6组，每组1个重复，每个重复以该组样本量为标准。分析6个种群马的遗传参数结果表明，其中共检测到221个等位基因,平均Shannon指数为1.691；有效等位基因数(Ne)为3.649～5.397；期望杂合度(He)为0.681～0.798；观测杂合度(Ho)为0.632～0.780；平均多态信息含量(PIC)为0.643～0.772。这些结果表明，6个群体都具有很高的遗传多样性。通过微卫星DNA位点的连锁不平衡及哈迪-温伯格平衡分析发现， 大多数位点的P值都大于校正值(P=0.006 5)，表示较多位点都处于哈迪-温伯格及连锁平衡状态。各群体间群体分化系数(Fst)表明，群体间分化程度较低(Fst<0.15)。基于Nei’s遗传距离与地理距离之间Mantel相关性检验显示二者之间呈现正相关性(R=0.502)，但未达到显著水平(P=0.310)；各马匹种群瓶颈效应分析表明，P值极显著(P_(IAM)<0.01)说明该地区的马群体受到过瓶颈效应的影响且该马群体历史上数量有大规模的减少。通过 FCA因子分析、基于Nei’s标准遗传距离UPGMA树状图以及Structure贝叶斯聚类分析发现，该地区马种群与纯血马和温血马聚为一类，说明该种群最有可能主要来源于温血马和纯血马。这些结果揭示，康西草原地区马匹具有较高的遗传多样性，该地马群体的血统与纯血马和温血马相近，这为当地马遗传资源评估以及开发利用打下了坚实的基础。