EPAS1 Gain-of-Function Mutation Contributes to High-Altitude Adaptation in Tibetan Horses.

ABSTRACT: High altitude represents some of the most extreme environments worldwide. The genetic changes underlying adaptation to such environments have been recently identified in multiple animals but remain unknown in horses. Here, we sequence the complete genome of 138 domestic horses encompassing a whole altitudinal range across China to uncover the genetic basis for adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. Our genome data set includes 65 lowland animals across ten Chinese native breeds, 61 horses living at least 3,300 m above sea level across seven locations along Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, as well as 7 Thoroughbred and 5 Przewalski's horses added for comparison. We find that Tibetan horses do not descend from Przewalski's horses but were most likely introduced from a distinct horse lineage, following

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6805228 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature