High genetic diversity of ancient horses from the Ukok Plateau.
Authors: Vorobieva Nadezhda V, Makunin Alexey I, Druzhkova Anna S, Kusliy Mariya A, Trifonov Vladimir A, Popova Kseniya O, Polosmak Natalia V, Molodin Vyacheslav I, Vasiliev Sergei K, Shunkov Michael V, Graphodatsky Alexander S
Journal: PloS one
Summary
Understanding horse domestication requires examining maternal lineages across multiple geographical regions and time periods, as evidence increasingly suggests this process involved repeated taming of wild horses from different populations rather than a single origin point. Researchers sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes from six horses recovered from burials on the Ukok Plateau in Russia's Altai Mountains (dated 2,700–1,400 years ago) alongside a late Pleistocene wild horse specimen, identifying distinct maternal lineages that shed light on domestication pathways and early horse movement across Eurasia. Two separate mitochondrial haplotype groups emerged: one matching European domestic horses and likely representing animals traded or herded into the Altai region, and a second unique to the Altai Mountains and surrounding territories, suggesting established local horse populations with independent maternal ancestry. The wild horse specimen represents an extinct pre-domestication lineage, confirming that the animals domesticated in different regions descended from genetically distinct wild populations. For equine professionals involved in breed development, genetic screening, or understanding performance traits linked to ancestry, these findings reinforce that modern horse populations carry diverse maternal heritages shaped by regional domestication events and historical movement patterns, which may influence both health predispositions and adaptability to specific environments.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This ancient DNA evidence supports that horses were domesticated from multiple distinct populations rather than a single origin, informing understanding of early equine genetics and breed foundations
- •The presence of two separate genetic lineages in the same geographic region (Altai) during antiquity suggests early human trade routes and horse movement patterns that shaped modern horse populations
Key Findings
- •Complete mitochondrial genomes of six domestic horses from Ukok plateau burials (2.7-1.4 kya) revealed high genetic diversity across two distinct haplotype groups
- •One haplotype group was widely distributed in Europe and presumably imported to Altai; the second was specific to Altai Mountains and surrounding regions
- •Ancient wild horse from Denisova cave belonged to an extinct pre-domestication lineage, supporting multiple origins of horse domestication