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Discovery of lost diversity of paternal horse lineages using ancient DNA

Author

Listed:
  • Sebastian Lippold

    (Research Group Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, D-04103)

  • Michael Knapp

    (Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, University of Otago)

  • Tatyana Kuznetsova

    (Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University)

  • Jennifer A. Leonard

    (Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), 41092
    Uppsala University, 75236)

  • Norbert Benecke

    (German Archaeological Institute, D-14195)

  • Arne Ludwig

    (Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, D-10252)

  • Morten Rasmussen

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Copenhagen University, 1350)

  • Alan Cooper

    (Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005)

  • Jaco Weinstock

    (School of Humanities (Archaeology), University of Southampton SO17 1BJ)

  • Eske Willerslev

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Copenhagen University, 1350)

  • Beth Shapiro

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Michael Hofreiter

    (Research Group Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, D-04103
    University of York)

Abstract

Modern domestic horses display abundant genetic diversity within female-inherited mitochondrial DNA, but practically no sequence diversity on the male-inherited Y chromosome. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this discrepancy, but can only be tested through knowledge of the diversity in both the ancestral (pre-domestication) maternal and paternal lineages. As wild horses are practically extinct, ancient DNA studies offer the only means to assess this ancestral diversity. Here we show considerable ancestral diversity in ancient male horses by sequencing 4 kb of Y chromosomal DNA from eight ancient wild horses and one 2,800-year-old domesticated horse. Both ancient and modern domestic horses form a separate branch from the ancient wild horses, with the Przewalski horse at its base. Our methodology establishes the feasibility of re-sequencing long ancient nuclear DNA fragments and demonstrates the power of ancient Y chromosome DNA sequence data to provide insights into the evolutionary history of populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian Lippold & Michael Knapp & Tatyana Kuznetsova & Jennifer A. Leonard & Norbert Benecke & Arne Ludwig & Morten Rasmussen & Alan Cooper & Jaco Weinstock & Eske Willerslev & Beth Shapiro & Michae, 2011. "Discovery of lost diversity of paternal horse lineages using ancient DNA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-6, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1447
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1447
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