Chessa, B. et al. (2009) Revealing the history of sheep domestication using retrovirus integrations. Science, 324(5926), pp. 532-536. (doi: 10.1126/science.1170587) (PMID:19390051) (PMCID:PMC3145132)
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Abstract
The domestication of livestock represented a crucial step in human history. By using endogenous retroviruses as genetic markers, we found that sheep differentiated on the basis of their "retrotype" and morphological traits dispersed across Eurasia and Africa via separate migratory episodes. Relicts of the first migrations include the Mouflon, as well as breeds previously recognized as "primitive" on the basis of their morphology, such as the Orkney, Soay, and the Nordic short-tailed sheep now confined to the periphery of northwest Europe. A later migratory episode, involving sheep with improved production traits, shaped the great majority of present-day breeds. The ability to differentiate genetically primitive sheep from more modern breeds provides valuable insights into the history of sheep domestication.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Chessa, Dr Bernardo and Palmarini, Professor Massimo and Kao, Professor Rowland and Stear, Professor Mike and Arnaud, Mr Frederick |
| Authors: | Chessa, B., Pereira, F., Arnaud, F., Amorim, A., Goyache, F., Mainland, I., Kao, R.R., Pemberton, J.M., Beraldi, D., Stear, M.J., Alberti, A., Pittau, M., Iannuzzi, L., Banabazi, M.H., Kazwala, R.R., Zhang, Y.P., Arranz, J.J., Ali, B.A., Wang, Z.L., Uzun, M., Dione, M.M., Olsaker, I., Holm, L.E., Saarma, U., Ahmad, S., Marzanov, N., Eythorsdottir, E., Holland, M.J., Ajmone-Marsan, P., Bruford, M.W., Kantanen, J., Spencer, T.E., and Palmarini, M. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Science |
| Publisher: | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| ISSN: | 0036-8075 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1095-9203 |
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