Related Experiment Videos
Rabbit mitochondrial DNA diversity from prehistoric to modern times
Journal of Molecular Evolution
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Ancient European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations showed stable mitochondrial DNA until the Middle Ages. A new mtDNA type, linked to domestic breeds, rapidly emerged in France around 2,000 years ago, suggesting human influence.
Area of Science:
- Paleogenomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Archaeogenetics
Background:
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis reveals population history.
- European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) genetic diversity is key to understanding its past.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze mitochondrial genetic variability in European rabbit populations across Europe and North Africa from 11,000 years ago to the present.
- To investigate the origins and spread of specific mtDNA lineages in wild and domestic rabbits.
Main Methods:
- Ancient DNA techniques applied to 90 rabbit bone samples from 22 archaeological sites.
- Sequencing of a 233-bp domain of the cytochrome b gene.
- Comparison of ancient mtDNA sequences with modern European rabbit populations.
Main Results:
- Ancient wild rabbit populations exhibited significant genetic stability until the Middle Ages.
- A novel mtDNA type, matching modern domestic breeds, abruptly appeared in French wild populations around 1,700 years ago.
- This mtDNA type rapidly established, coinciding with the development of European warrens after the 10th century A.D.
Conclusions:
- Human activity likely influenced the rapid spread of a specific mtDNA lineage in European rabbits.
- The origin of this lineage (domestic or foreign) remains to be determined.
- The findings highlight the impact of human practices on wildlife genetic diversity over millennia.