Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences
Abstract
Advances in molecular genetics, especially the integration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses, have significantly transformed our understanding of the origins, geographical centers, and dispersal dynamics of domestication, a field traditionally based on archaeological and morphological evidence. In this study, the mtDNA control-region sequences of 296 individuals from 15 native Turkish sheep breeds were analyzed to clarify their maternal genetic diversity and evolutionary origins. Sequencing of a 531-bp D-loop fragment revealed 53 polymorphic sites and 78 distinct haplotypes, indicating substantial haplotypic diversity (Hd = 0.918) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.01391) within these populations. All five major ovine mitochondrial haplogroups (A, B, C, D, and E) were detected, with haplogroup B being the most prevalent (55.74%), followed by haplogroups A and C. The unexpectedly high frequency of haplogroup C (15.54%) is consistent with the possibility that Anatolia functioned not only as a historical contact zone but also as a region in which this maternal lineage may have persisted at relatively elevated ancestral frequencies, although alternative demographic scenarios cannot be excluded. Median-joining network analyses revealed clear separation among haplogroups and starlike topologies within haplogroups A and B, consistent with postdomestication demographic expansions. Furthermore, the significantly negative Tajima’s D and Fu’s FS values observed for haplogroups B and C provide additional support for expansion signals within these maternal lineages. Collectively, the findings highlight Anatolia’s pivotal role as a genetic crossroads in the domestication and subsequent diffusion of sheep. The results also underscore the strategic importance of conserving within-breed genetic diversity, emphasizing that preserving individual-level variation is essential for safeguarding the evolutionary legacy and adaptive potential of Türkiye’s indigenous sheep genetic resources.
DOI
10.55730/1300-0128.4415
Keywords
Sheep, mtDNA, control region, D-loop, haplogroup, haplotype
First Page
90
Last Page
104
Publisher
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
ATA, N, & CEMAL, İ (2026). Origins of mitochondrial diversity in Turkish sheep breeds: Anatolia as a contact zone or refugial center?. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences 50 (3): 90-104. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4415
