1. Selection and introgression facilitated the adaptation of Chinese native endangered cattle in extreme environments
- Author
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Ye Li, Xian Guo, Jie Pei, Hui Wu, Xinfeng Liu, Xianyong Lan, Zhaohong Li, Ping Yan, Ruolin Yang, and Yubin Yan
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Candidate gene ,Endangered species ,introgression ,lcsh:Evolution ,Introgression ,adaptation ,Biology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Genome ,03 medical and health sciences ,Genetics ,lcsh:QH359-425 ,extreme environment ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Phylogenetic tree ,business.industry ,Original Articles ,endangered ,030104 developmental biology ,Evolutionary biology ,cattle ,Genetic structure ,Original Article ,Livestock ,Adaptation ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,business ,SNPs - Abstract
Although persistent efforts have identified and characterized a few candidate genes and related biological processes with potential functions in the adaptation of many species to extreme environments, few works have been conducted to determine the genomic basis of adaptation in endangered livestock breeds that have been living in extreme conditions for more than thousands of years. To fill this gap, we sequenced the whole genomes of nine individuals from three Chinese native endangered cattle breeds that are living in high‐altitude or arid environments. Phylogenetic and evolutionary history analyses of these three and other six breeds showed that the genetic structure of the cattle populations is primarily related to geographic location. Interestingly, we identified pervasive introgression from the yak to Zhangmu cattle (ZMC) that cover several genes (e.g., NOS2, EGLN1 and EPAS1) involved in the hypoxia response and previously identified as positive selection genes in other species, which suggested that the adaptive introgression from yak may have contributed to the adaptation of ZMC to high‐altitude environments. In addition, by contrasting the breeds in opposite living conditions, we revealed a set of candidate genes with various functions from hypoxia response, water metabolism, immune response and body shape change to embryo development and skeletal system development, etc., that may be related to high‐altitude or arid adaptation. Our research provides new insights into the recovery and adaptation of endangered native cattle and other species in extreme environments and valuable resources for future research on animal husbandry to cope with climate change.
- Published
- 2021