A massively parallel sequencing approach uncovers ancient origins and high genetic variability of endangered Przewalski's horses.

ABSTRACT: The endangered Przewalski's horse is the closest relative of the domestic horse and is the only true wild horse species surviving today. The question of whether Przewalski's horse is the direct progenitor of domestic horse has been hotly debated. Studies of DNA diversity within Przewalski's horses have been sparse but are urgently needed to ensure their successful reintroduction to the wild. In an attempt to resolve the controversy surrounding the phylogenetic position and genetic diversity of Przewalski's horses, we used massively parallel sequencing technology to decipher the complete mitochondrial and partial nuclear genomes for all four surviving maternal lineages of Przewalski's horses. Unlike single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing usually affected by ascertainment bias, the pres

SUBMITTER: Goto H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3194890 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature