Genetic admixture and its impact on domestication in the Bos genus: a model for genetic improvement of livestock

2026-07-22

Background Genetic exchange across species boundaries is emerging as a much more common phenomenon than previously assumed. This introduces potentially adaptive genetic variation into recipient populations. Such interspecies admixture is believed to have played an important role in domestication events, particularly in members of the Bos genus, which uniquely harbours no fewer than five independently domesticated lineages. Understanding these independent, yet reticulated evolutionary events is of fundamental interest for managing the genetic resources of domestic and wild bovids. Objectives I propose to investigate the role of interspecies admixture in domestication through four linked topics. The first is to systematically map the interspecies admixture among seven Asian Bos species, and to determine whether introgressed elements have been beneficial to the recipient populations. The second is to identify genes that have been under strong selection in each independent domestication process. The third is to link adaptively introgressed genomic elements with phenotypic effects. The fourth will address the future of genetic resources in all Asian Bos. Methods The project will bring together a large set of complete genomes and use a combination of population genetic and comparative genomic methods. Phenotypic data and experiments will be performed to validate the phenotypic effects of key introgressed elements and genes under selection during the domestication process. Expected outcome and importance The project will improve our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of genetic elements that cross the species barrier, in particular the interplay between admixture and the domestication process. It will also provide important insights into the domestication process itself. A joint understanding of these processes is crucial for assessing which types of foreign genetic elements that can be useful for genetic improvement of domestic species.

Denmark

2026-02-01