Ancient and modern DNA reveal dynamics of domestication and cross-continental dispersal of the dromedary.

ABSTRACT: Dromedaries have been fundamental to the development of human societies in arid landscapes and for long-distance trade across hostile hot terrains for 3,000 y. Today they continue to be an important livestock resource in marginal agro-ecological zones. However, the history of dromedary domestication and the influence of ancient trading networks on their genetic structure have remained elusive. We combined ancient DNA sequences of wild and early-domesticated dromedary samples from arid regions with nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial genotype information from 1,083 extant animals collected across the species' range. We observe little phylogeographic signal in the modern population, indicative of extensive gene flow and virtually affecting all regions except East Africa, where dromedary

SUBMITTER: Almathen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4914195 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature