The donkey was domesticated more than seven thousand years ago in Africa, according to the findings of a study by the Center for Anthropology and Genetics of Toulouse (CAGT), in France, published this Thursday in the journal Science.
An important animal for humans for several centuries, especially in agricultural tasks and cargo transportation, the genetic history of the donkey (Equus asinus) is, however, still poorly understood, but has been the subject of an exhaustive genetic analysis of the modern and ancient studies. donkeys by the CAGT team.
The goal was to trace the origins, spread, and management practices underlying the domestication of the animal for thousands of years.
Experts believe that the genetic history of the donkey is important not only to assess its contribution to human history, but also to improve its management in the future at the local level.
In this sense, the team led by Evelyn Todd evaluated 238 genomes of modern and ancient donkeys in search of clues about their domestication history and found strong phylogeographic evidence that supports the existence of a single domestication event in East Africa more than 7000 years ago. , around 5000 BC
This domestication event was followed by a series of expansions across Africa and Eurasia, where their subpopulations eventually became separated and differentiated, perhaps due to the desertification of the Sahara.
Over time, gene flows from Europe and the Middle East reached donkey populations in West Africa, explains Science.
The analysis also uncovered a new genetic lineage from the eastern region, which existed about 2,200 years ago, and contributed to increased gene flow to Asian donkey populations.
The study also includes information on the use of donkeys, including their breeding and livestock use, as well as evidence of selection for their large size and significant inbreeding in former donkey populations.
Source: TSF
