[an error occurred while processing this directive]

HEREDITAS ›› 2013, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (2): 151-160.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2013.00151

• en • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research progress on molecular genetic diversity of the yak (Bos grunniens)

MA Zhi-Jie1, ZHONG Jin-Cheng2, HAN Jian-Lin3, XU Jing-Tao1, LIU Zhong-Na2, BAI Wen-Lin4   

  1. 1. Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine of Qinghai University, National Key Lab Cultivating Base of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Ecology in Qinghai Province, Qinghai Plateau Yak Research Center, Xining 810016, China 2. College of Life Science & Technology, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, China 3. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences-International Livestock Research Institute Joint Laboratory on Livestock and Forage Genetic Resources, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China 4. College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
  • Received:2012-10-15 Revised:2012-11-29 Online:2013-02-20 Published:2013-02-25

Abstract: Studies on genetic diversity, as the core of population genetics, reveal genetic variations of the yak (Bos grunniens). Since the 1970s, the morphological, chromosomal, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, as well as DNA sequence polymorphisms, in yak have been extensively investigated. Following the rapid development of molecular genetics and DNA sequencing technology, the molecular genetic diversity of yak has become a focus in recent studies. In this paper, the research progress on the molecular genetic diversity of yak was reviewed based on the information and knowledge on mtDNA sequences and nucleus molecular markers, as well as candidate genes, obtained over the last 15 years. The future perspectives of relevant research topics were discussed to shed more light on depth understanding of the population genomics of the yak.

Key words: yak, genetic diversity, nuclear genome, mitochondrial DNA, molecular marker, Y chromosome