Genetic diversity in Iranian Horse Breeds: Insights from Y chromosome analysis

Horses have played a crucial role in human civilization, with evidence of their presence in Iran dating back to 3000 BC. Due to its diverse climate, Iran is home to various horse breeds, including Turkmen, Kordi, Drehshuri, Arab, Sistani, Northwest native, and Caspian horses. This study investigates the genetic diversity in the paternal lines of Iranian horses using Y chromosome analysis. Blood samples from 81 horses across six populations were used to analyze a 264-bp Y chromosome fragment, identifying six segregating sites and nine haplotypes. Three haplotypes (H_1, H_2, and H_6) were predominant in over 80% of the individuals. Haplotype diversity varied from 0.6 (Arab breed) to 0.86 (Kordi breed), and nucleotide diversity ranged from 0.00288 (Arab breed) to 0.01442 (Qarebagh breed). The average nucleotide and haplotype diversity values were 0.0067 and 0.81, respectively. A comparison with mtDNA diversity studies revealed higher genetic diversity in maternal lines. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the haplotypes into two branches, with 90.12% of individuals in one branch, indicating distinct genetic structures within Iranian horse populations. These findings are crucial for understanding Iranian horse breeds' genetic makeup and developing breeding programs to preserve their genetic diversity and cultural significance.

Genetic diversity in Iranian Horse Breeds: Insights from Y chromosome analysis Keywords:

Horse genetics , Y chromosome , Genetic diversity , Iranian horse breeds , paternal lineage