Cited by 144Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestockLivestock Farming and ManagementGenetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals

The Mosaic Genome of Indigenous African Cattle as a Unique Genetic Resource for African Pastoralism

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Kim, Kwondo, Kwon, Taehyung, Dessie, Tadelle, Yoo, DongAhn, Mwai, Okeyo Ally, Jang, Jisung, Sung, Samsun, Lee, SaetByeol +14 more·2020·Nature Genetics

Abstract

Cattle pastoralism plays a central role in human livelihood in Africa. However, the genetic history of its success remains unknown. Here, through whole-genome sequence analysis of 172 indigenous African cattle from 16 breeds representative of the main cattle groups, we identify a major taurine × indicine cattle admixture event dated to circa 750-1,050 yr ago, which has shaped the genome of today's cattle in the Horn of Africa. We identify 16 loci linked to African environmental adaptations across crossbred animals showing an excess of taurine or indicine ancestry. These include immune-, heat-tolerance- and reproduction-related genes. Moreover, we identify one highly divergent locus in African taurine cattle, which is putatively linked to trypanotolerance and present in crossbred cattle living in trypanosomosis-infested areas. Our findings indicate that a combination of past taurine and recent indicine admixture-derived genetic resources is at the root of the present success of African pastoralism.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41588-020-0694-2

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  • Zebu cattle spread westward from the Abyssinian region across the continent and penetrated south to Zambia, forming two major hybrid zones of taurine and zebu cattle in West and Southern Africa.

    “Zebu cattle spread westward from the Abyssinian region across the continent and penetrated south to Zambia, forming two major hybrid zones of taurine and zebu cattle in West and Southern Africa [48,49,50].”

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Authors
Kim, K., Kwon, T., Dessie, T., Yoo, D., Mwai, O. A., Jang, J., Sung, S., Lee, S., Salim, B., Jung, J., Jeong, H., Tarekegn, G. M., Tijjani, A., Lim, D., Cho, S., Oh, S. J., Lee, H.-K., Kim, J., Jeong, C., Kemp, S., Hanotte, O., & Kim, H.
Affiliations
  • Seoul National University (KR)
  • International Livestock Research Institute (KE)
  • University of Khartoum (SD)
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
  • Roslin Institute (GB)
  • National Institute of Animal Science (KR)
  • Jeonbuk National University (KR)
  • Gyeongsang National University (KR)
Corresponding author
  • Hanotte, Olivier
  • Kim, Heebal
Venue
Nature Genetics
Published
2020-09-28
Volume
52
Issue
10
Pages
1099-1110
ISSN
  • 1061-4036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1718
OpenAlex
W3091710808
Cited by
140
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 2
FWCI
8.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • Nature Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (submittedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Seoul National University Open Repository (Seoul National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Greater South Information System
Funders
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • UK aid from the UK Government’s Department for International Development
  • Rural Development Administration (PJ01323701, PJ01040601)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Livestock Farming and Management
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
Keywords
crossbreeding, genetic ancestry, environmental adaptation, trypanotolerance, trypanosomiasis, heat tolerance, immune-related genes, Horn of Africa, cattle breeds, genetic resources
MeSH terms
Whole Genome Sequencing, Adaptation, Physiological, Africa, Alleles, Animals, Breeding, Cattle, Genotype, Hot Temperature, Mosaicism, Reproduction, Genome, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

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