Genetic convergence in the adaptation of dogs and humans to the high-altitude environment of the tibetan plateau.

ABSTRACT: The high-altitude hypoxic environment represents one of the most extreme challenges for mammals. Previous studies of humans on the Tibetan plateau and in the Andes Mountains have identified statistical signatures of selection in different sets of loci. Here, we first measured the hemoglobin levels in village dogs from Tibet and those from Chinese lowlands. We found that the hemoglobin levels are very similar between the two groups, suggesting that Tibetan dogs might share similar adaptive strategies as the Tibetan people. Through a whole-genome sequencing approach, we have identified EPAS1 and HBB as candidate genes for the hypoxic adaptation on the Tibetan plateau. The population genetic analysis shows a significant convergence between humans and dogs in Tibet. The similarities in the set

SUBMITTER: Wang GD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4231634 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature