Maternal genetic variation reveals the origin of Arabian sheep and their introgression with African and Asian sheep

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2025

Autores

Al-Araimi, NA (Autor) Outra; Al-Atiyat, RM (Autor) Outra; Luzuriaga-Neira, A (Autor) Outra; Pimenta, J (Autor) Outra; Melo-Ferreira, J (Autor) FCUP; beja-pereira, a (Autor) FCUP

Revista

Título: Small Ruminant Research

Vol. 253

ISSN: 0921-4488

Editora: Elsevier

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citações

Scopus - 0 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-01A-D45

DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107636

Abstract (EN): The present study aimed to provide insight into the genetic diversity, phylogenetic history, and maternal origin of the native sheep populations from the Arabian Peninsula and test hypotheses regarding the possible introgression of mtDNA from Arabian Peninsula sheep into African and Asian populations. The mtDNA sequencing of 17 populations from Arabia and Africa was conducted, and mtDNA data on six populations from Asia and Africa were compared with our data. Measurements of genetic diversity indices (h and pi) were higher for populations from the Arabian Peninsula than for those from Africa. Based on the estimated population structure, comparing pairwise FST and AMOVA values between Arabian and African populations indicated low genetic differentiation. According to phylogenetic relationship analysis (neighbour-joining (NJ) tree), the Arabian Peninsula sheep population sequences were grouped into four maternal haplogroups (HPGs): A, B, C, and E. Among these groups, HPG B was predominant, HPG A was the second most common HPG, and the remaining HPGs (C and E) exhibited lower frequencies in the studied Arabian sheep breeds. In addition, median-joining network analysis provided strong evidence of previous introgression between Arabian, African and Asian sheep, which might have arisen through seafaring trade or the migratory movements of ancient humans. Finally, Approximate Bayesian Computation support the colonization of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula via two colonization routes, an older one in the north and a more recent one in the south.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 11