Genetic homogeneity of North-African goats

PLoS One. 2018 Aug 16;13(8):e0202196. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202196. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

North Africa represents a rich and early reservoir of goat genetic diversity, from which the main African breeds have been derived. In this study, the genetic diversity of four indigenous Algerian goat breeds (i.e., Arabia, Makatia, M'Zabite and Kabyle, with n = 12 for each breed) has been investigated for the first time by genome-wide SNP genotyping; moreover in a broader context, genetic structuration of Algerian and Moroccan goats was explored (via FST, MDS, STRUCTURE, FineSTRUCTURE, BAPS, sPCA and DAPC analyses). At national level, the study revealed high level of genetic diversity and a significant phenomenon of admixture affecting all the Algerian breeds. At broader scale, clear global genetic homogeneity appeared considering both Algerian and Moroccan stocks. Indeed, genetic structuration was almost nonexistent among Arabia (from Algeria), Draa, Black and Nord (from Morocco), while the ancestral Kabyle and M'Zabite breeds, reared by Berber peoples, showed genetic distinctness. The study highlighted the threat to the Maghrebin stock, probably induced by unsupervised cross-breeding practices which have intensified in recent centuries. Moreover, it underlined the necessity to deepen our understanding of the genetic resources represented by the resilient North-African goat stock.

MeSH terms

  • Africa, Northern
  • Algeria
  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Gene Flow
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genetics, Population
  • Goats / classification
  • Goats / genetics*
  • Hybridization, Genetic
  • Morocco
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Species Specificity

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.5pt8nt8

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.