Mitochondrial DNA variation and genetic relationships in Spanish donkey breeds (Equus asinus)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2004

Authors

aranguren-mendez, j (Author) Other; beja-pereira, a (Author) FCUP; avellanet, r (Author) Other; dzama, k (Author) Other; jordana, j (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics

Vol. 121

Pages: 319-330

ISSN: 0931-2668

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 24 Citations

Scopus - 24 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Animal and Dairy science

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-8AD

DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2004.00464.x

Abstract (EN): In this study, the mitochondrial DNA diversity of six Spanish donkey breeds and two African donkey populations (one from Morocco and the other from Zimbabwe) was analysed. A total of 79 animals were sequenced for 313 bp of the cytochrome b gene, and 91 individuals for 383 bp of the D-loop region or control-region. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of both Spanish and African populations revealed low diversity. Only six and seven haplotypes respectively were found in cytochrome b and the D-loop region. Relatively low nucleotide diversity (pi) values were detected in these populations. The pi values, from the D-loop region, ranged from 0.0006 to 0.0169 for the Catalana and Andaluza breeds, respectively. The obtained results seem to confirm the existence of two divergent maternal lineages of African origin (Equus asinus africanus and E. a. somaliensis). In this paper the genetic relationships between these breeds are analysed and compared with those obtained in other European populations. Also, the data on the genetic relationships between the populations, obtained from nuclear DNA (microsatellites) and mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b and D-loop region) is argued and interpreted.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific