Dogs, chickens and ants : investigating the reliability of modern maternal genetic data in retracing early dispersals
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been used extensively in the past few decades to investigate the phylogeny and phylogeography of domesticates but numerous episodes of homogenisation between populations caused by human agency have no doubt obscured past genetic signals. This research statistically tests for mtDNA genetic structure and variation within modern dog, ancient dog and modern chicken populations on a global scale using Wright's F-statistics and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). It also investigates the potential of the tramp ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (ghost ant) to be used as a new proxy for human dispersals in Oceania. Based on extensive datasets combining primary analyses and secondary sources, the statistical analyses reveal differing results according to species. A distinct lack of maternal genetic structure and variation between global populations of modern indigenous dogs is observed. The analyses conducted on 88 ancient dog specimens dating prior to the 15th century, however, reveal mtDNA structure and variation between continents. Thus, it is concluded that the genetic homogenisation observed within modern dogs but absent in ancient populations most likely results from the European colonial
Lebrasseur, Ophelie Melodie Marine
Dogs, chickens and ants : investigating the reliability of modern maternal genetic data in retracing early dispersals. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been used extensively in the past few decades to investigate the phylogeny and phylogeography of domesticates but numerous episodes of homogenisation between populations caused by human agency have no doubt obscured past genetic signals. This research statistically tests for mtDNA genetic structure and variation within modern dog, ancient dog and modern chicken populations on a global scale using Wright's F-statistics and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). It also investigates the potential of the tramp ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (ghost ant) to be used as a new proxy for human dispersals in Oceania. Based on extensive datasets combining primary analyses and secondary sources, the statistical analyses reveal differing results according to species. A distinct lack of maternal genetic structure and variation between global populations of modern indigenous dogs is observed. The analyses conducted on 88 ancient dog specimens dating prior to the 15th century, however, reveal mtDNA structure and variation between continents. Thus, it is concluded that the genetic homogenisation observed within modern dogs but absent in ancient populations most likely results from the European colonial
ant investigate reliability modern maternal genetic data early dispersal dna use_extensively investigate phylogeny domesticate numerous episode population cause human_agency doubt obscure past genetic signal statistically test genetic structure variation_within modern dog ancient dog modern chicken population global_scale use wright analysis molecular variance also_investigate potential ant ghost ant use new proxy human dispersal based extensive datasets combine primary analysis secondary_source statistical_analysis reveal differ_accord specie distinct lack maternal genetic structure variation global population modern indigenous dog observe analysis_conduct ancient dog specimen date however reveal structure variation continent thus conclude genetic observe within modern dog absent ancient_population likely european colonial