A complete mitochondrial genome sequence from a mesolithic wild aurochs (Bos primigenius)
Citation:
Edwards, C.J., Magee, D.A., Park, S.D.E., McGettigan, P.A., Lohan, A.J., Murphy, A., Finlay, E.K., (...), MacHugh, D.E., A complete mitochondrial genome sequence from a mesolithic wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), PLoS ONE, 5, 2, 2010, art. no. e9255Download Item:
Abstract:
ackground:
The derivation of domestic cattle from the extinct wild aurochs (
Bos primigenius
) has been well-documented
by archaeological and genetic studies. Genetic studies point towards the Neolithic Near East as the centre of origin for
Bos
taurus
, with some lines of evidence suggesting possible, albeit rare, genetic contributions from locally domesticated wild
aurochsen across Eurasia. Inferences from these investigations have been based largely on the analysis of partial
mitochondrial DNA sequences generated from modern animals, with limited sequence data from ancient aurochsen
samples. Recent developments in DNA sequencing technologies, however, are affording new opportunities for the
examination of genetic material retrieved from extinct species, providing new insight into their evolutionary history. Here
we present DNA sequence analysis of the first complete mitochondrial genome (16,338 base pairs) from an
archaeologically-verified and exceptionally-well preserved aurochs bone sample.
Methodology:
DNA extracts were generated from an aurochs humerus bone sample recovered from a cave site located in
Derbyshire, England and radiocarbon-dated to 6,738
6
68 calibrated years before present. These extracts were prepared for
both Sanger and next generation DNA sequencing technologies (Illumina Genome Analyzer). In total, 289.9 megabases
(22.48%) of the post-filtered DNA sequences generated using the Illumina Genome Analyzer from this sample mapped with
confidence to the bovine genome. A consensus
B. primigenius
mitochondrial genome sequence was constructed and was
analysed alongside all available complete bovine mitochondrial genome sequences.
Conclusions:
For all nucleotide positions where both Sanger and Illumina Genome Analyzer sequencing methods gave
high-confidence calls, no discrepancies were observed. Sequence analysis reveals evidence of heteroplasmy in this sample
and places this mitochondrial genome sequence securely within a previously identified aurochsen haplogroup (haplogroup
P), thus providing novel insights into pre-domestic patterns of variation. The high proportion of authentic, endogenous
aurochs DNA preserved in this sample bodes well for future efforts to determine the complete genome sequence of a wild
ancestor of domestic cattle
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/dbradleyDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: BRADLEY, DANIEL GERARD MARY
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections
Series/Report no:
PLoS ONE;5;
2;
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial proteinMetadata
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