Comparative genomic insights into adaptation, selection signatures, and population dynamics in indigenous Indian sheep and foreign breeds.

ABSTRACT:

Background

India's indigenous sheep breeds have evolved under extreme and diverse agro-ecological pressures, yet the genomic basis of their resilience and local adaptation remains poorly understood.

Method

This study combines genomic inbreeding estimates, runs of homozygosity (ROH), population structure analyses, and composite selection scans to investigate three native Indian breeds-Changthangi, Deccani, and Garole-within a panel of nine breeds that also includes populations from Africa (Ethiopian Menz), East and South Asia (Tibetan, Chinese Merino, Bangladesh Garole, Bangladesh East), and Europe (Suffolk).

Results

ROH and heterozygosity estimates revealed strong contrasts: Bangladesh East sheep exhibited high genomic inbreeding (F_ROH≈14.4%) and low observ

SUBMITTER: Muthusamy M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12408274 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature