Publications by authors named "L Patterson-Rosa"
The global spread of Oriental Horses in the past 1,500 years through the lens of the Y chromosome.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Horses have been shaped by human needs through selective breeding, leading to a very uniform male-specific portion of the Y chromosome (MSY) across modern breeds.
- The study analyzed 1,517 males from 189 horse breeds, revealing the significant influence of Oriental stallions, especially Arabian and English Thoroughbred, over the past few centuries.
- Additionally, the research uncovered two major historical waves of horse dissemination, including the "Spanish influence" from the Iberian Peninsula and the spread during the Ottoman Empire's expansion, highlighting the complex ancestry of modern horses.
The genetic diversity of Breton horses in Brazil is a critical concern, mainly due to the small population size and low number of births per year. Given that the inbreeding was overlooked by breeders for multiple generations, we estimated the genetic diversity of this population utilizing pedigree-based measures of population diversity. A total of 1394 six-generation pedigrees representing the full population of registered Breton horses in Brazil defined a total population (TP, = 2679), with horses born between 2000 and 2022, reproductively active and alive, as reported by the breed association, representing the reference population (RP, = 731).
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- Horses played a crucial role in Indigenous cultures in the American Southwest and Great Plains, but the timeline and methods of their integration remain debated.
- A study analyzing historic horse remains combined genomic, isotopic, and other evidence, revealing strong genetic ties to Iberian horses, with later British influences.
- By the early 17th century, horses were widely adopted in Indigenous societies, impacting herd management, ceremonies, and cultural practices before European observers arrived in the 18th century.
Article Synopsis
- Donkeys played a crucial role in human history as reliable transport animals, especially in tough terrains, yet their significance is not thoroughly researched.
- A study analyzed the genomes of 207 modern and 31 ancient donkeys, revealing that they were domesticated in Africa around 5000 BCE, with subsequent expansions across Africa and Eurasia.
- The research discovered a new genetic lineage from the Levant around 200 BCE, which contributed to donkey ancestry in Asia, highlighting the historical importance of donkeys in economies, particularly during the Roman era when mules were vital.