Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Awassi-Jo sheep breed (Ovis aries) in Jordan

Mohammad H Brake; Hussein M Migdadi; Monther T Sadder; Sami Awabdeh; Khaleel Jawasreh; Wisam Obeidat; Ruba Al Omari; Nizar J Haddad

doi:10.1080/23802359.2021.1906179

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Awassi-Jo sheep breed (Ovis aries) in Jordan

Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 2021 Mar 26;6(3):1263-1264. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2021.1906179.

Authors

Mohammad H Brake¹, Hussein M Migdadi², Monther T Sadder³, Sami Awabdeh², Khaleel Jawasreh⁴, Wisam Obeidat², Ruba Al Omari², Nizar J Haddad²

Affiliations

¹ Science Faculty, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan.
² National Agricultural Research Center - NARC, Baqa'a, Jordan.
³ School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
⁴ Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

Abstract

Using high-throughput sequencing technology, the complete mitochondrial genome of Awassi-Jo breed (Ovis aries) was decoded. Mitochondrial genome was 16,617 bp in length. The genome contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA) and a control region (D-loop region). The genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for the ND6 gene and 8 tRNA genes, which were encoded on the L-strand. The GC content is 38.9%. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare Awassi-Jo with other sheep breeds. The phylogenetic tree showed that Awassi-Jo diverged earlier than related breeds (Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Netherland) with a common ancestor in haplogroup HB. The results revealed the importance of mitochondrial data in studying sheep evolution and domestication.

Keywords: Evolution; domestication; sheep phylogeny.

Grants and funding

The authors are profoundly grateful to National Agricultural Research Center (This work was led by Dr. Nizar Haddad and funded by project number M 32-021) for their support, encouragement, and for funding of this project.