High mitochondrial differentiation levels between wild and domestic Bactrian camels: a basis for rapid detection of maternal hybridization

Abstract

Hybridization between wild species and their domestic congeners often threatens the gene pool of the wild species. The last wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) populations in Mongolia and China are examples of populations facing such a hybridization threat. To address this key issue in the conservation of wild camels, we analysed wild, hybrid and domestic Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) originating from Mongolia, China and Austria. Through screening of an 804-base-pair mitochondrial fragment, we identified eight mitochondrial haplotypes and found high sequence divergence (1.9%) between C. ferus and C. bactrianus. On the basis of a mitochondrial DNA sequence fixed difference, we developed a diagnostic PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay to differentiate between wild and domestic camel samples. We applied the assay to 81 individuals and confirmed the origin of all samples including five hybrids with known maternal ancestry. The PCR-RFLP system was effective for both traditional (blood, skin) and non-invasive samples (faeces, hair), as well as for museum specimens. Our results demonstrate high levels of mitochondrial differentiation between wild and domestic Bactrian camels and that maternal hybridization can be detected by a rapid and reliable PCR-RFLP system.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Iraqi Camel Breeds using Cytochrome b

“…All studies found that the genetic variation within breeds was much greater than the genetic variation between the breeds. Our results were not consistent with the results of Silbermayr et al (2010), who found in their study both wild and domesticated camels that most genetic variation between and within the breeds was 95.64% and 4.36% respectively. Ming et al (2016b) also found that between breed variance was 90.14% and within breed was 9.86% in their studies of wild and domesticated camels.…”

“…Ming et al (2016b) also found that between breed variance was 90.14% and within breed was 9.86% in their studies of wild and domesticated camels. Evolution of domesticated and wild camels was in the form of two distinct chains might be the reason behind these finding, and it is suggested that they do not have the same origins (Silbermayr et al, 2010) demoGraphic expanSion (Table 2).…”

Genetic diversity and population structure ofMongolian domesticBactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus)

“…2010a) and nine new ones (GenBank submission KF640722–KF640727 and KF640729–KF640731). Molecular diversity indices over all Mongolian Bactrian camels are detailed in Table 1.…”

“…2010a) on the MegaBACE 1000. The amplicons were aligned to a reference genome (NC_009628.2) using codoncode aligner v3.0.2 (CC Cooperation).…”

Advances in camel genomics and their applications: A review

“…The Journal of Animal Genetics (2017) 45, 49-58 and they are not the same subspecies at least in their maternal origins, and the extant wild camel is a separate lineage but not the direct progenitor of the domestic Bactrian camel (Ji et al 2009;Silbermayr et al 2010). In addition, mtDNA sequence analysis of ancient DNA proved to be crucial in resolving domestication processes in dromedaries (Almathen et al 2016).…”