Genet. Sel. Evol. 38 (2006) 525-534
DOI: 10.1051/gse:2006019

Polymorphisms of two Y chromosome microsatellites in Chinese cattle

Xin Cai^a, Hong Chen^{a, b}, Shan Wang^a, Kai Xue^a and Chuzhao Lei<sup>a

a</sup>  College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural Molecular Biology, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
^b  Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China

(Received 15 December 2005; accepted 18 April 2006; published online 6 September 2006)

Abstract - Two Y chromosome specific microsatellites UMN2404 and UMN0103 were genotyped and assessed for polymorphisms in a total of 423 unrelated males from 25 indigenous Chinese cattle breeds. Consistently, both microsatellites displayed specific indicine and taurine alleles in each bull examined. The indicine and taurine alleles were detected in 248 males (58.6%), and 175 males (41.4%), respectively, although these frequencies varied amongst different breeds examined. The indicine alleles dominated in the southern group (92.4%), while the taurine alleles dominated in the northern group (95.5%). Hainan Island was possibly the site for the origin of Chinese zebu, and Tibetan cattle were probably independently domesticated from another strain of Bos primigenius. The geographical distribution of these frequencies reveals a pattern of male indicine introgression and a hybrid zone of indicine and taurine cattle in China. The declining south-to-north and east-to-west gradient of male indicine introgression in China could be explained by historical data, geographical segregation and temperature and weather conditions.

Key words: Chinese cattle / taurine / indicine / genetic introgression / Y chromosome

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© INRA, EDP Sciences 2006