Microsatellite genotyping of medieval cattle from central Italy suggests an old origin of Chianina and Romagnola cattle

Analysis of DNA from archaeological remains is a valuable tool to interpret the history of ancient animal populations. So far most studies of ancient DNA target mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which reveals maternal lineages, but only partially the relationships of current breeds and ancient populations. In this study we explore the feasibility of nuclear DNA analysis. DNA was extracted from 1000-years old cattle bone collected from Ferento, an archaeological site in central Italy. Amplification of 15 microsatellite FAO-recommended markers with PCR products yielded genotypes for four markers. Expected heterozygosity was comparable with values of modern breeds, but observed heterozygosity was underestimated due to allelic loss. Genetic distances suggested a position intermediate between (1) Anatolian, Balkan, Sicilian and South-Italian cattle and (2) the Iberian, North-European and Central-European cattle, but also a clear relationship with two central-Italian breeds, Chianina and Romagnola. ...对考古遗存中的DNA开展分析，是解析古代动物种群历史的重要研究工具。迄今为止，多数古代DNA研究以线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA）为靶标，该物质可揭示母系谱系，但仅能部分反映现代畜禽品种与古代种群之间的亲缘关系。本研究旨在探讨核DNA分析的可行性：研究人员从意大利中部考古遗址费伦托（Ferento）出土的千年牛骨中提取了DNA。通过聚合酶链式反应（Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR）对联合国粮食及农业组织（Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO）推荐的15个微卫星（microsatellite）标记进行扩增后，成功获得了4个标记的基因型。研究结果显示，期望杂合度与现代牛品种的对应数值相当，但由于等位基因丢失，观测杂合度被低估。遗传距离分析表明，该古牛种群的遗传地位介于（1）安纳托利亚牛、巴尔干牛、西西里牛与南意大利牛之间，以及（2）伊比利亚牛、北欧牛与中欧牛之间，同时与意大利中部的奇亚纳（Chianina）和罗马诺拉（Romagnola）两个品种存在明确的亲缘关系……