SHORT COMMUNICATION Genetic relationship between Mongolian and Norwegian horses?
G. Bjørnstad, N. Ø. Nilsen† and K. H. Røed Department of Morphology, Genetics and Aquatic Biology, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway
Summary Human populations of Central Asian origin have contributed genetic material to northern European populations. It is likely that migrating humans carried livestock to ensure food and ease transportation. Thus, eastern genes could also have dispersed to northern European livestock populations. Using microsatellite data, we here report 2 that the essentially different genetic distances DA and (dl) and their corresponding phylogenetic trees show close associations between the Mongolian native horse and northern European horse breeds. The genetic distances between the northern European breeds and Standardbred ⁄ Thoroughbred, representing a southern-derived source of horses, were notably larger. We suggest that contribution of genetic material from eastern horses to northern European populations is likely to have occurred.
Keywords dispersal, horse breed history, microsatellites, migration, Mongolian horse, Northern European horse breeds.
Migration is an important force shaping the social structure, examined the genetic distances between these northern evolution and genetics of populations. Migrating people European breeds and the Mongolian native horse by conceivably carried livestock to ensure food and transpor- microsatellite genotyping. Thoroughbred, having an orien- tation, thus generating associations between human and tal origin, and Standardbred trotter, a breed developed by livestock movements (Medjugorac et al. 1994). Deep tradi- substantial crossings, were included to survey a southern tions for horse breeding exist in the central Asian steppes, impact vs. an eastern impact of northern European horses. exemplified through the great expansions of the Mongo- The data material covered 334 animals representing the lian Empire under Attila (5th century) and Genghis Khan four native Norwegian breeds Fjord horse (40), Nord- (13th century), conducted on horseback. Compatible with land ⁄ Lyngen horse (30), Døle horse (40) and Coldblooded what partly could be the origin of the northern European trotter (44), together with Icelandic horse (37), Standard- human populations (Zerjal et al. 1997), central Asian popu- bred (41), Thoroughbred (40) and Mongolian native horse lations could also have played a notable role in the genetic (62). The Norwegian breeds and the Icelandic horse are constitution of northern European horses. The origins of at referred to as northern European breeds. Blood samples least two native Norwegian horse breeds, the Nordland ⁄ were the DNA source for all breeds except the Mongolian Lyngen horse and the Fjord horse, have been expected to horse, where hair samples were collected from the three include an eastern component (e.g. Roaldsøy 1969; areas Bulgan, Karakorum and Terelj in Mongolia. Edwards & Ceddes 1987). The Vikings introduced the horse, The following 26 microsatellites were analysed: AHT4, probably of Norwegian origin, to Iceland a 1000 years ago AHT5, ASB2, ASB17, HMS2, HMS6, HMS7, HTG4, HTG6, (Lie 1973; Adalsteinsson 1981). The Icelandic horse has HTG7, HTG14, LEX20, NVHEQ5, NVHEQ11, NVHEQ18, since been isolated, and thus might be a key for determining NVHEQ21, NVHEQ29, NVHEQ40, NVHEQ43, NVHEQ54, the origin of the Norwegian horse breeds. In this study, we NVHEQ70, NVHEQ79, NVHEQ82, NVHEQ100, UCDEQ425 and VHL20 (references and laboratory protocols given in Address for correspondence Bjørnstad et al. 2000). The genetic distance parameters DA 2 Gro Bjørnstad, International Livestock Research Institute, Genetics and (Nei et al. 1983) and (dl) (Goldstein et al. 1995) were Genomics, PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya. chosen to estimate the interbreed distances because their E-mail: [email protected] mathematical and biological bases differ essentially. Ran- † Deceased 1998 dom genetic drift is assumed to account for breed differences
Accepted for publication 2 August 2002 under DA evolving under the infinite allele model, while