Assessment of cattle genetic introgression into domestic yak populations using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers

Hybridization between yak Poephagus grunniens and taurine Bos taurus or indicine B. indicus cattle has been widely practiced throughout the yak geographical range, and gene flow is expected to have occurred between these species. To assess the impact of cattle admixture on domestic yak, we examined 1076 domestic yak from 29 populations collected in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Russia using mitochondrial DNA and 17 autosomal microsatellite loci. A cattle diagnostic marker-based analysis reveals cattle-specific mtDNA and/or autosomal microsatellite allele introgression in 127 yak individuals from 22 populations. The mean level of cattle admixture across the populations, calculated using allelic information at 17 autosomal microsatellite loci, remains relatively low (mY(cattle) = 2.66 +/- 0.53% and Q(cattle) = 0.69 +/- 2.58%), although it varies a lot across populations as well as among individuals within population. Although the level of cattle admixture shows a clear geographical structure, with higher levels of admixture in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Mongolian and Russian regions, and lower levels in the Himalayan and Pamir Plateau region, our results indicate that the level of cattle admixture is not significantly correlated with the altitude across geographical regions as well as within geographical region. Although yak-cattle hybridization is primarily driven to produce F-1 hybrids, our results show that the subsequent gene flow between yak and cattle took place and has affected contemporary genetic make-up of domestic yak. To protect yak genetic integrity, hybridization between yak and cattle should be tightly controlled.

The ADH1B Arg47His polymorphism in East Asian populations and expansion of rice domestication in history

Background: The emergence of agriculture about 10,000 years ago marks a dramatic change in human evolutionary history. The diet shift in agriculture societies might have a great impact on the genetic makeup of Neolithic human populations. The regionally restricted enrichment of the class I alcohol dehydrogenase sequence polymorphism (ADH1BArg47His) in southern China and the adjacent areas suggests Darwinian positive selection on this genetic locus during Neolithic time though the driving force is yet to be disclosed. Results: We studied a total of 38 populations (2,275 individuals) including Han Chinese, Tibetan and other ethnic populations across China. The geographic distribution of the ADH1B*47His allele in these populations indicates a clear east-to-west cline, and it is dominant in south-eastern populations but rare in Tibetan populations. The molecular dating suggests that the emergence of the ADH1B*47His allele occurred about 10,000 similar to 7,000 years ago. Conclusion: We present genetic evidence of selection on the ADH1BArg47His polymorphism caused by the emergence and expansion of rice domestication in East Asia. The geographic distribution of the ADH1B*47His allele in East Asia is consistent with the unearthed culture relic sites of rice domestication in China. The estimated origin time of ADH1B*47His allele in those populations coincides with the time of origin and expansion of Neolithic agriculture in southern China.

Phylogenetic study of complete cytochrome b genes in musk deer (genus Moschus) using museum samples

As an endangered animal group, musk deer (genus Moschus) are not only a great concern of wildlife conservation, but also of special interest to evolutionary studies due to long-standing arguments on the taxonomic and phylogenetic associations in this group. Using museum samples, we sequenced complete mitochondrial cytochrome b genes (1140 bp) of all suggested species of musk deer in order to reconstruct their phylogenetic history through molecular information. Our results showed that the cytochrome b gene tree is rather robust and concurred for all the algorithms employed (parsimony, maximum likelihood, and distance methods). Further, the relative rate test indicated a constant sequence substitution rate among all the species, permitting the dating of divergence events by molecular clock. According to the molecular topology, M. moschiferus branched off the earliest from a common ancestor of musk deer (about 700,000 years ago); then followed the bifurcation forming the M. berezouskii lineage and the lineage clustering M. fuscus, M. chrysogaster, and M. leucogaster (around 370,000 years before present), interestingly the most recent speciation event in musk deer happened rather recently (140,000 years ago), which might have resulted from the diversified habitats and geographic barriers in southwest China caused by gigantic movements of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in history. Combining the data of current distributions, fossil records, and molecular data of this study, we suggest that the historical dispersion of musk deer might be from north to south in China. Additionally, in our further analyses involving other pecora species, musk deer was strongly supported as a monophyletic group and a valid family in Artiodactyla, closely related to Cervidae. (C) 1999 Academic Press.

Cytogenetics, morphology and evolution of four subspecies of the Giant Sheep argali (Ovis ammon) of Asia

Dalai-lamae (Ovis ammon dalai-lamae), Gobi (O. a. darwini), Kara Tau (O. a. nigrimontana) and Tibetan (O. a. hodgsoni) argali share a 2n = 56 diploid chromosome number and a karyotype consisting of 2 pairs of biarmed and 25 pairs of acrocentric autosomes, a large acrocentric X and a minute Y chromosome. The Giemsa-banding patterns of the largest pair of biarmed chromosomes were identical to those of the largest biarmed chromosomes in all wild sheep and domestic sheep of the genus Ovis. The banding patterns of the second pair of biarmed chromosomes (metacentric) were identical to the third pair of biarmed chromosomes in Ovis with 2n = 54 and to the third largest pair of chromosomes in the 2n = 52 karyotype of Siberian snow sheep (O. nivicola). The G-banded karyotypes of dalai-lamae, darwini, hodgsoni and nigrimontana are consistent with all subspecies of argali (O. ammon), except that the Y chromosome is acrocentric instead of metacentric as typical of the argaliform wild sheep and Ovis. The Dalai-lamae and Tibetan argali specimens exhibit the light-colored, long-haired ruffs and body coloration typical of argalis from the Tibetan Plateau. The Gobi argali, from the extreme western Gobi, is similar to the dark phase argali.

Melanocortin-1 receptor gene variants in four Chinese ethnic populations

There is strong relationship between melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants and human hair color and skin type. Based on a sequencing study of MC1R gene in 50 individuals from the Uygur, Tibetan, Wa and Dai ethnic populations, we discuss the occurre

Phylogeographic analysis of mtDNA variation in four ethnic populations from Yunnan Province: new data and a reappraisal

Two sets of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable segment I (HVS-I) data from four ethnic populations (Tibetan, Va, Dai, and Lahu) from Yunnan Province, China, were analyzed here by using phylogeographic methods. The results suggest that more attention

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Oriental voles: genus Eothenomys (Muridae, Mammalia)

Oriental voles of the genus Eothenomys are predominantly distributed along the Southeastern shoulder of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1143 bp) obtained from 23 specimens (eight species)

Phylogenetic relationships in genus Niviventer (Rodentia : Muridae) in China inferred from complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

Chinese species of the genus Niviventer, predominantly distributed in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and in Taiwan, are a diverse group and have not yet received a thorough molecular phylogenetic analysis. Here, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relatio

藏獒血液蛋白遗传多样性的研究

采用不连续垂直板聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,对河曲藏獒、青海藏獒、青海藏狮犬和青海土种犬共4个群体103只犬的9个血液蛋白基因座(Tf、Po、Es-1、Es-2、Sα_2:、Hb、Alb、Pr、Amy)的多态性进行了检测,分析了两个藏獒群体的群体内和群体间的遗传变异,并以Nei氏标准遗传距离(D)为基础用UPGMA法探讨了不同犬群之间的遗传关系.结果表明,在4个被测犬群中,Tf、Po、Es-1、Es-2和Sα_2 5个基因座上存在多态性,其中Tf、Es-1和Po分别由3个等住基因所控制,Es-2和Sα_2,分别由2个等位基因所控制,而Hb、Alb、Pr和Amy基因座均呈现单态;河曲藏獒群体内遗传变异较青海藏獒丰富,而两个藏獒群体间的遗传分化程度很低(G_(ST)=0.0187);以Nei氏标准遗传距离(D)为基础的UPGMA法聚类结果表明.青海藏獒与青海藏狮犬和青海土种犬的遗传关系近于河曲藏獒.

SOCIAL-DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MOUNT-EMEI, CHINA

The development of infant Macaca thibetana was studied at Mount Emei, China, and compared to that of other macaque species. It was found that there are many common features in the process of infant socialization in species of the genus Macaca: mothers play an important and active role, other group members influence the infants' development to a greater or lesser extent and play is a major activity in the life of infants. Some differences were found to exist, however, between macaque species. These included differences in maternal care behaviour such as 'len', leaving time and weaning time. Paternal behaviours were also found to vary within and among species. Tibetan macaque males care for infants extensively, and they may use infants as an agonistic buffer. The natural and social environment may also influence differences between macaque species in infant development.

EARLY MOTHER-INFANT RELATIONSHIPS OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MT-EMEI CHINA

Quantitative data on early mother-infant relationships in the Tibetan macaque was collected during the first 23 weeks of infant life in spring, 1987, at Mt. Emei, China. During the first week of life, infants spent 98.3% of their time in ventroventral contact with their mothers. This contact rapidly decreased to 33.8% by the 4th week and thereafter to 0.85% by the 23rd week. Nipple contact decreased relatively slowly from 89.7% to 62.9% within the first 4 weeks of infant life and to 19.8% by the 23rd week. Ventrolateral and ventrodorsal contact appeared by the 2nd week, mean-while, maternal restraining behavior appeared, and reached a peak by the 3rd week. The mother neither encouraged nor discouraged her infant's independence during 4-8th weeks. Maternal rejection of the infant was first observed when the infant was 11 weeks old and continued thereafter.

藏鸡线粒体全基因组序列的测定和分析

通过PCR扩增,测序,拼接,获得藏鸡(Tibetan Chicken)线粒体全基因组序列并进行数据分析处理.藏鸡线粒体全基因组序列全长16 783 bp,共有13个蛋白质编码基因、2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因和1个D-loop区.模拟电子酶切结果显示,藏鸡Dra Ⅰ酶的酶切结果和先前报道的原鸡,茶花鸡,尼西鸡和大理漾濞黄鸡的酶切结果都不相同,为藏鸡特有.基于D-loop区全序列和13个蛋白质编码基因序列,采用N-J算法与原鸡属4个种,3个亚种和3个家鸡品系构建系统进化树:初步确定藏鸡起源于红原鸡,与家鸡中的来航鸡、白洛克鸡亲缘关系最近,但是藏鸡的进化与来航鸡、白洛克鸡这两个家鸡品系又显得相对独立.推测可能原因是藏鸡的祖先在进入高原以后处于相对封闭的环境,从而形成了独特群体遗传特性.

藏北色林错流域的水文特征

本文报道丁1997年和1998年夏季对藏北色林错等水体水文特征的考察情况结 果表明，色林错是一个大型深水湖泊，表层水温在下午4：30左右达到最高，清晨7：30左右时最 低浅水区域表层湖水在6月份的极端最高水温为2l 2℃．韫端最低水温为11 0℃，而H甲均水温 变幅仅5 6℃，其幅度大于在同一时段湖区内不同区域之间表层水温的变化色林错湖水的DH值 较高．为9 19 9 66；表层水的pH昼夜变化较小，仅O．15．最高值出现在凌晨．同时水体不同区域 及深度的pH值基本一致．其溶解氧变化在4．62—5 12mg／L，而且不同深度水层之间的变幅较小． 仅0 03—0 35mg／L；但其湖汉浆东如瑞溶解氧的昼夜变幅为4 58 5 59mg／I，；盐度的日变幅为 1 60％ 2 20％考察表明．藏北水体的盐分有一个从河流到湖泊、以及由流水向静水富集的趋 势；鱼类的分布与水体盐分的含母密切相关，即鱼类随着水体盐分的增加而消失，代之H嗜盐性卣 虫的出现及大量繁衍

SEASONAL-CHANGES IN BODY-WEIGHT OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MT-EMEI, CHINA

This 1991-1992 study was designed to expand previous research on body weight (BW) in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Emei. Data on BW were collected in late autumn (LA) and late winter (LW) in groups ranging above 1,200 m. Over the winter, the BW fell significantly from a mean of 16.8 to 11.4 kg in females and from 19.5 to 17.0 kg in males. The previously reported BW means of 12.8 kg for females and 18.3 kg for males, measured in late spring, are near the center of the annual BW range for this species. In addition, with the sharper decline of female BW (- 32% vs. - 13% seen in males), the sexual dimorphism ((M) over bar/(F) over bar) in BW increased from 1.16 in LA to 1.49 in LW. This finding may be related to differential parental investment by two sexes. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Otolith microstructure of Oxygymnocypris stewartii (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae, Schizothoracinae) in the Lhasa River in Tibet, China

Otolith microstructure of Oxygymnocypris stewartii collected from the Lhasa River was examined and described with regards to the early life history events. The monthly changes in the number of microincrements on the margin of the otolith were examined to validate the approximately daily periodicity of otolith increment formation. The microstructure of otoliths was used to detect changes in microincrement deposition patterns corresponding with events during early life. The annuli, microincrements and checks including the hatch check, yolk absorption check and several recurrent patterns in the otolith were described. Periodicity of the recurrent patterns was weekly, fortnightly and monthly. Through counting the number of the microincrements, it was confirmed that the primary growth of O. stewartii was in a period of 7 or 8 months from late March to October; it was estimated that O. stewartii might hatch between April and May.