Characterisation of Genetic Diversity, Structure and Admixture of Dromedary Populations

Faisal Almathen Assistance Professor of Genetics and Breeding College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources King Faisal University, Camelids Workshop [email protected] Outlines

• A brief history of dromedary

• Dromedary camel types

• Genetic diversity results

• Summary and future work

Characterisation of Genetic Diversity, Structure and Admixture of Dromedary Populations 2 A brief history of dromedary camel

From Biozone powerpoint ‘cultural evolution’

Characterisation of Genetic Diversity, Structure and Admixture of Dromedary Populations Importance of dromedary

In the Past

• Transport of humans and goods through deserts. • Help in the expansion of civilizations (e.g. Roman Empire, Arab). Importance of dromedary

Nowadays

• Multipurpose animal and source of food (milk and meat). • Economic values: racing, tourism.

Importance of dromedary

In the future • Dromedary products will increase. • Dromedary may be revealed as sustainable in regions suffering of desertification.

Dromedary camel types Camel types in thePro dArabianuction camel ty Peninsulapes Production camel types I-Desert II-Beach camels III-Hill camels MahaheemI-D esert cameSolfso r II-BeAwaarichk camels III-HAwialld cai mels

Mahaheem Sofor Awarik Awadi A- Production camel

Magatter Shual Sahlia Hadana

Magatter Shual Sahlia Hadana

Racing camel types B- Racing camel OmanRia acing camel tyHpuerras Omania Hurra A- Production dromedary I- Desert camels camels

Type Color Size & Weight 1- Almugaheem Dark brown to black. Big size, 500-800 Kg.

2- Almugateer White Big size, 480-700 Kg.

3- Alsufur Light brown Big size, 500-700 Kg

4- Alshual Light brown and dark yellow to Big size, 480-700 Kg brown Magaheem Mugatter Shual Sufur A- Production II- Beach camels dromedary camels

Type Color Size & Weight 1) Alsahlia Light brown Moderate to big size, 350-600 Kg

2) Alawarik White Moderate to small size, 250-500 Kg Alawarik Alsahlia A- Production III- Hill camels dromedary camels

Type Color Size & Weight 1) Alhadana Yellow to red Moderate to small size, 250-500 Kg

2) Alawadi Brown Moderate to small size, 250-450 Kg Alhadana Alawadi Alawadi B- Racing dromedary camels

Type Color Size & Weight 1) Alomania Between light Small size, 250-350 Kg brown to light yellow

2) Alhura Light brown Small size, 250-350 Kg

Genetic diversity study Dromedary range

How is the genetic diversity distributed across its present day geographic range?

What is the degree of genetic differentiation between these camel populations?

Kohler-Rollefson, 1993 Sampling

1120 individuals 21 countries Sampling range

Tunisia Syria Iran Pakistan Algeria Kuwait India Libya (Sinai)

Saudi Arabia UAE Niger Chad Oman

Yemen

Ethiopia

Kenya Australia Methods

Microsatellite genotyping Mitochondrial DNA sequences

ABI 3730 (Applied Biosystems) sequencer system Results of Microsatellites: diversity and structure

North of South of Horn ofEA AfricaF NorthWNAF of Africa NAR SWAR/SEAR SouthSA AsiaS the Arabia the Arabia 1 Global population K= 2

a)

Global population without E.AF K= 6

b)

N.AF N.AR Archaeological records E.AF N.AF and N.AR SW.AR SE.AR S.AS

2 structure • into two distinct haplogroups haplotypes may begrouped •

Lack phylogeographic 76 dromedary mtDNA

mtDNA results: network

b) a) 1 A1 n = 1 n = 5 n = 49 WNAF A2 NAR EAF SAR B1 B4 B2 SAS B3 SAS* AU

source: freemap.jp analysis Summary…

Weak genetic differentiation among most of the dromedary populations Consequence of: Globalization of dromedary diversity, Inter-continental trading networks with extensive back-and-forth movements lead to intense sharing of the genetic variations

appear to be distinct These results suggest that the domestic dromedary camels were introduced to the African continent via at least two entry points (Egypt and Horn of Africa)

Most of genetic structure is in the

Future work Advances in genotyping

Comparative genomics approaches

Scientific collaborations between universities, research centers, camel industries and governments Conservation and Genetic Improvement center (CGIC)

International camel consortium for genetic improvement and conservation (ICC-GIC)

Olivier Hanotte Pamela Burger Joram Mwacharo

Pauline Charruau