Genome Biology and Evolution: Przewalski’s horses not ancestors of modern domestic horses
9 November 2011On the OUPblog, the co-author of a Genome Biology and Evolution paper discusses the discovery that the Przewalski’s horses of Central Asia are not ancestors of the modern horse, and the implications this has on breeding strategies for protecting this critically endangered species.
"For millions of years, the stout, muscular Przewalski’s horse freely roamed the high grasslands of Central Asia. By the mid-1960s, these, the last of the wild horses, were virtually extinct: a result of hunting, habitat loss, and cross breeding with domestic horses."Recovering from a tiny population of 12 individuals and only four purebred females, there are now nearly 2,000 Przewalski’s horses around the world. Once again, the light-colored horses, standing about 13 hands, or 1.3 meters, tall, are beginning to graze on the Asian steppe, thanks to captive breeding and reintroduction programs."
For the full blog post, visit: Przewalski’s horses not ancestors of modern domestic horses
Read the highlight: Highlight: A Massively Parallel Sequencing Approach Uncovers Ancient Origins and High Genetic Variability of Endangered Przewalski’s Horses
Published in Genome Biology and Evolution, Advance Access, 13 September 2011.
Read the paper: A Massively Parallel Sequencing Approach Uncovers Ancient Origins and High Genetic Variability of Endangered Przewalski’s Horses
Published in Genome Biology and Evolution, Advance Access, 29 July 2011.