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DOI

  • Linying Wang
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Guilian Sheng
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Michaela Preick
    University of Potsdam
  • Songmei Hu
    Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Xi’an
  • Tao Deng
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Ulrike H. Taron
    University of Potsdam
  • Axel Barlow
  • Jiaming Hu
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Bo Xiao
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Guojiang Sun
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Shiwen Song
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Xindong Hou
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Xulong Lai
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Michael Hofreiter
    University of Potsdam
  • Junxia Yuan
    China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
Both molecular data and archaeological evidence strongly support an African origin for the domestic donkey. Recent genetic studies further suggest that there were two distinct maternal lineages involved in its initial domestication. However, the exact introduction time and the dispersal process of domestic donkeys into ancient China are still unresolved. To address these questions, we retrieved three near-complete mitochondrial genomes from donkey specimens excavated from Gaoling County, Shaanxi Province, and Linxia Basin, Gansu Province, China, dated at 2,349-2,301, 469-311, and 2,160-2,004 cal. BP, respectively. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses reveal that the two older samples fall into the two different main lineages (i.e., clade Ⅰ and clade Ⅱ) of the domestic donkey, suggesting that the two donkey maternal lineages had been introduced into Midwestern China at least at the opening of Silk Road (approximately the first century BC). Bayesian analysis shows that the split of the two donkey maternal lineages is dated at 0.323 Ma (95% CI: 0.583–0.191 Ma) using root-tip dating calibrations based on near-complete mitogenomes, supporting the hypothesis that modern domestic donkeys go back to at least two independent domestication events. Moreover, Bayesian skyline plot analyses indicate an apparent female population increase between 5,000 and 2,500 years ago for clade I followed by a stable population size to the present day. In contrast, clade II keeps a relatively stable population size over the past 5,000 years. Overall, our study provides new insights into the early domestication history of Chinese domestic donkeys.
Original languageEnglish
JournalFrontiers in Genetics
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2021
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