Insight into the current genomic diversity, conservation status and population structure of Tunisian Barbarine sheep breed.

ABSTRACT: Local livestock breeds play a crucial role in global biodiversity, connecting natural and human-influenced environments and contributing significantly to ecosystem services. While commercial breeds dominate industrial systems, local livestock breeds in developing countries, like Barbarine sheep in Tunisia, are vital for food security and community maintenance. The Tunisian Barbarine sheep, known for its adaptability and distinctive fat-tailed morphology, faces challenges due to historical crossbreeding. In this study, the Illumina Ovine SNP50K BeadChip array was used to perform a genome-wide characterization of Tunisian Barbarine sheep to investigate its genetic diversity, the genome structure, and the relationship within the context of Mediterranean breeds. The results show moderate genet

SUBMITTER: Giovannini S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11176520 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature