O envolvimento da sociedade na ciência é uma realidade. As pessoas participam como voluntárias no... more O envolvimento da sociedade na ciência é uma realidade. As pessoas participam como voluntárias no processo científico, principalmente na recolha de dados, mas também noutras fases, tais como a garantia de qualidade, a análise e interpretação de dados, a definição de problemas ou a divulgação de resultados. O objetivo principal de qualquer projeto de ciência cidadã é o de contribuir para a investigação, mas também capacitar a sociedade criando um esforço de colaboração entre cientistas e a sua comunidade. Estes projetos promovem também a literacia científica e o pensamento crítico, aumentam a confiança na ciência e contribuem não só para uma sociedade mais informada como para combater as tão conhecidas notícias falsas (fakenews). Os Laboratórios #CitSciComm são a atividade central do projeto NEWSERA, destinados a revelar o potencial dos projetos de ciência cidadã como mecanismos de comunicação de ciência e tecnologia. Os Laboratórios #CitSciComm, compostos por profissionais da comuni...
Assessing impact is a growingly urgent need for scientific research. Within the newly established... more Assessing impact is a growingly urgent need for scientific research. Within the newly established Horizon Europe program, citizen active participation, engagement and co-creation will become pivotal and thus proper impact assessment needs to be addressed. In this setting, Citizen Science (CS) arises as a fundamental tool for widening participation and contributing to reach social, economical, scientific and political impacts. However, dierent challenges have been described for CS impact assessment tools that impede a proper evaluation of communication actions. NEWSERA project tries to address current limitations from a dierent angle, by interpreting CS as part of the communication process. NEWSERA will thus analyse and evaluate the complex and multidirectional science communication strategies, including digital and non-digital ones, addressed to quadruple helix stakeholders in citizen science projects across Europe as the new paradigm for science communication (#CitSciComm). Our hyp...
Numa altura em que as relações entre ciência e sociedade adquirem cada vez mais protagonismo, ini... more Numa altura em que as relações entre ciência e sociedade adquirem cada vez mais protagonismo, iniciativas que permitam um maior envolvimento e diálogo entre ambas as partes ganham cada vez mais destaque. Neste contexto tem-se assistido a um enorme crescimento, ao longo da última década, de uma prática conhecida como ciência cidadã que, pelo facto de constituir uma forma de participação pública na investigação científica, potencia o avanço mais rápido do conhecimento científico, contribuindo para uma maior colaboração entre a ciência e a sociedade. Apresenta-se aqui um breve apanhado das principais características da ciência cidadã, de que forma esta prática surge no passado, mobilizando o envolvimento da sociedade daquele tempo, analisando, em particular exemplos relacionados com o registo da biodiversidade, e traçando algum do panorama atual em Portugal. Deixam-se algumas sugestões para o futuro desenvolvimento de ações nesta área, em particular estudos que analisem as motivações p...
CS study and practice in Iberoamerica and the Caribbean is widespread and diverse. We identified ... more CS study and practice in Iberoamerica and the Caribbean is widespread and diverse. We identified 30+ search terms that embody CS in the region. A search in SPA/POR/ENG bibliographical databases resulted in 200,000+ publications, mostly concentrated in 7 countries. Out of 685 documented CS experiences in 9 countries, 81% focus on biodiversity, ecology and environment, and natural resource management; 73% are local or subnational. Further research is urgent to include other countries and to understand diverse goals driving CS in the region: e.g., informing decisions to improve livelihoods and conserve; educating youth for social change; valuing different forms of knowledge.
Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expa... more Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date, including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (R1-fold coverage), 87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations. We find that two extinct horse lineages existed during early domestication, one at the far western (Iberia) and the other at the far eastern range (Siberia) of Eurasia. None of these contributed significantly to modern diversity. We show that the influence of Persian-related horse lineages increased following the Islamic conquests in Europe and Asia. Multiple alleles associated with elite-racing, including at the MSTN ''speed gene,'' only rose in popularity within the last millennium. Finally, the development of modern breeding impacted genetic diversity more dramatically than the previous millennia of human management.
There are three native Portuguese horse breeds: Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano. This study compare... more There are three native Portuguese horse breeds: Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano. This study compares diversity patterns of 17 protein and 12 microsatellite markers in these three as well as 30 other breeds to infer relationships among the breeds and to compare levels of polymorphism of these breeds for use in conservation efforts. The Garrano and the Lusitano showed a high level of genetic diversity, similar to that observed for most of the other analysed breeds, while the Sorraia and Friesian breeds showed low levels of variation for both genetic marker types. The combined protein and microsatellite data produced a tree that fit historical records well and with greater confidence levels than those for either data set alone. The combined genetic diversity and relationship information provides important baseline data for future breed conservation efforts, especially for a critically endangered breed such as the Sorraia.
Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted cont... more Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted continuously in the Iberian Peninsula since the Pleistocene and were taken to the American continent (New World) in the 15th century. To investigate the variation within the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of Iberian and New World horse breeds, to analyze their relationships, and to test the historical origin of New World horses, a total of 153 samples, representing 30 Iberian and New World breeds, were analyzed by sequencing mtDNA control region fragments. Fifty-four haplotypes were found and assigned to seven haplogroups. Reduced levels of variation found for the Menorquina, Sorraia, and Sulphur Mustang breeds are consistent with experienced bottlenecks or limited number of founders. For all diversity indices, Iberian breeds showed higher diversity values than South American and North American breeds. Although, the results show that the Iberian and New World breeds stem from multiple origins, we present a set of genetic data revealing a high frequency of Iberian haplotypes in New World breeds, which is consistent with historical documentation.
The Sorraia horse is a closed breed with reduced effective population size and considered in crit... more The Sorraia horse is a closed breed with reduced effective population size and considered in critical maintained risk status. The breed exists in 2 main breeding populations, one in Portugal and one in Germany, with a smaller population size. A set of 22 microsatellite loci was used to examine genetic diversity and structure of the Sorraia horse breed and to compare individual inbreeding coefficient F, estimated from pedigree data, with individual heterozygosity and mean d 2 . The Sorraia horse shows lower levels of microsatellite diversity when compared with other horse breeds. Due to management strategies, there are clear differences in the genetic structure of the 2 main Sorraia horse populations. Individual heterozygosity was shown to be a good estimator, used together with or as an alternative to inbreeding coefficient, in predicting fitness and evaluating the inbreeding level of the Sorraia horse. The information gathered in this study, combined with information available from previous studies, offers an important and wide information base for the future development of an effective breeding management of the Sorraia horse in order to preserve this endangered breed.
The role of European wild horses in horse domestication is poorly understood. While the fossil re... more The role of European wild horses in horse domestication is poorly understood. While the fossil record for wild horses in Europe prior to horse domestication is scarce, there have been suggestions that wild populations from various European regions might have contributed to the gene pool of domestic horses. To distinguish between regions where domestic populations are mainly descended from local wild stock and those where horses were largely imported, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity in 24 European horse breeds typed at 12 microsatellite loci. The distribution of high levels of genetic diversity in Europe coincides with the distribution of predominantly open landscapes prior to domestication, as suggested by simulation-based vegetation reconstructions, with breeds from Iberia and the Caspian Sea region having significantly higher genetic diversity than breeds from central Europe and the UK, which were largely forested at the time the first domestic horses appear there. Our results suggest that not only the Eastern steppes, but also the Iberian Peninsula provided refugia for wild horses in the Holocene, and that the genetic contribution of these wild populations to local domestic stock may have been considerable. In contrast, the consistently low levels of diversity in central Europe and the UK suggest that domestic horses in these regions largely derive from horses that were imported from the Eastern refugium, the Iberian refugium, or both.
Marismeño horses originated from primitive horses living around the marshes of the Guadalquivir R... more Marismeño horses originated from primitive horses living around the marshes of the Guadalquivir River in Southern Spain. Throughout their evolution, they have experienced crosses with other breeds, first with horses from North Africa and thereafter with other horses. However, they have not lost their ability to adapt to the demanding marsh environment. Recently, a studbook of the breed was established, and the Breeders Association started a conservation programme. To study the relationship of the Marismeño with other breeds, a microsatellite analysis was developed, which included other ancient Southern Iberian horse populations, such as the Sorraia and Retuertas breeds. Candidates of recent crossbreeding with Marismeño horses, such as the Hispano-Arabian and the Spanish Purebred, were studied, and the Thoroughbred and the Arabian breed were used as international references. The results indicated that the Marismeño horse population maintains a great genetic diversity. Despite recent crossbreeding, the fixation index and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis disclosed a certain homogeneity degree. A dendrogram was built using the obtained genetic distances, and clustering was performed with the software STRUCTURE, and the results reflected the genetic differentiation of the Marismeño horse from the other autochthonous Iberian breeds, although the Marismeño population has maintained a tight relationship with the Spanish Purebred. Remarkably, some relatedness between the Marismeño and the Barb horse breeds could be observed and was most likely derived from an ancient gene flow between the horses of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.
Various horse populations in the Americas have an origin in Spain; they are remnants of the first... more Various horse populations in the Americas have an origin in Spain; they are remnants of the first livestock introduced to the continent early in the colonial period (16th and 17th centuries). We evaluated genetic variability within the Venezuelan Criollo horse and its relationship with other horse breeds. We observed high levels of genetic diversity within the Criollo breed. Significant population differentiation was observed between all South American breeds. The Venezuelan Criollo horse showed high levels of genetic diversity, and from a conservation standpoint, there is no immediate danger of losing variation unless there is a large drop in population size.
The use of DNA technology for parentage testing is increasing every day. Most laboratories have i... more The use of DNA technology for parentage testing is increasing every day. Most laboratories have improved their exclusion probabilities (PE) by the addition of DNA microsatellite loci to standard blood-typing results. The efficacy of each locus depends on the number of alleles detected and their frequencies in the breeds tested. Here we analyzed the usefulness of six microsatellites for routine parentage testing in three Portuguese autochthonous horse breeds: Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano. The DNA loci analyzed -ASB2, HMS3, HMS7, HTG4, HTG10, and VHL20 -were chosen based upon the polymorphism detected in other breeds with Iberian horse influence. The estimated probability of exclusion of wrongly named parents (PE) was high, with values ranging from 88.5% to 99.6%.
Ancient DNA analysis has been an emergent area of research during the past few decades. With the ... more Ancient DNA analysis has been an emergent area of research during the past few decades. With the development of new molecular biology techniques it has become easier to retrieve genetic information from archaeological samples than was previously thought possible. This is of great importance as it helps us to clarify species phylogenies and understand the evolution of animals and plants. This area has been important in the study of domestication, since it sheds light on the processes through which animals became part of human societies. Here we address the domestication of the horse. Despite their significance in shaping societies through prehistoric and historic times, the nature and timing of horse domestication has been hard to document.
The mitochondrial control region sequence was compared between the two surviving matrilineal line... more The mitochondrial control region sequence was compared between the two surviving matrilineal lineages of the Sorraia horse. Two haplotypes were found, showing three differences between them. The reduced number of surviving maternal lineages emphasizes the importance of establishing a conservation plan for this endangered breed.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) typing based on microsatellites can be a valuable approach... more Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) typing based on microsatellites can be a valuable approach to understanding the selective processes occurring at linked or physically close MHC genes and can provide important information on variability and relationships of populations. Using microsatellites within or in close proximity with bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA) genes, we investigated the polymorphisms in the bovine MHC, known as the BoLA, in eight Portuguese cattle breeds. Additional data from non-BoLA microsatellite loci were also used to compare the variability between these regions. Diversity was higher in BoLA than in non-BoLA microsatellites, as could be observed by the number of alleles, allelic richness and observed heterozygosity. Brava de Lide, a breed selected for aggressiveness and nobility, presented the lowest values of observed heterozygosity and allelic richness in both markers. Results from neutrality tests showed few statistically significant differences between the observed Hardy-Weinberg homozygosity (F) and the expected homozygosity (F E ), indicating the apparent neutrality of the BoLA microsatellites within the analysed breeds. Nevertheless, we detected a trend of lower values of observed homozygosity compared with the expected one. We also detected some differences in the levels of allelic variability among the four BoLA microsatellites. Our data showed a higher number of alleles at the BoLA-DRB3 locus than at the BoLA-DRBP1 locus. These differences could be related to their physical position in the chromosome and may reflect functional requirements for diversity.
The present study intends to survey the genetic variability of an endangered semiferal Portuguese... more The present study intends to survey the genetic variability of an endangered semiferal Portuguese native pony breed, the Garrano. Thirteen microsatellite markers were examined in 277 animals born in 1998, belonging to eight subpopulations corresponding to eight northern Portuguese geographic regions. Mean heterozygosity (H o ) in the Garrano breed was 0.732, ranging from 0.531 to 0.857 across subpopulations. Allelic frequencies and diversity differed significantly between regions, suggesting the existence of genetic differentiation within the breed confirmed by the population differentiation estimator F ST . Allele sharing genetic distance (Dps) was used to determine the relationship between the analyzed subpopulations, some of which are diverging significantly from the others. Relationships among six Iberian horse breeds (including the Garrano) were assessed through the restricted maximum likelihood method, which clusters the Garrano with another Celtic pony, the Spanish Asturcon, traditionally bred in geographical continuity with the Garrano. Results reveal a statistically significant deficit of heterozygotes within the Garrano breed (F IT = 0.031, p < 0.05). Regular monitoring should therefore be implemented so that the effect of genetic drift within subpopulations, enhanced by inbreeding, may be successfully minimized.
O envolvimento da sociedade na ciência é uma realidade. As pessoas participam como voluntárias no... more O envolvimento da sociedade na ciência é uma realidade. As pessoas participam como voluntárias no processo científico, principalmente na recolha de dados, mas também noutras fases, tais como a garantia de qualidade, a análise e interpretação de dados, a definição de problemas ou a divulgação de resultados. O objetivo principal de qualquer projeto de ciência cidadã é o de contribuir para a investigação, mas também capacitar a sociedade criando um esforço de colaboração entre cientistas e a sua comunidade. Estes projetos promovem também a literacia científica e o pensamento crítico, aumentam a confiança na ciência e contribuem não só para uma sociedade mais informada como para combater as tão conhecidas notícias falsas (fakenews). Os Laboratórios #CitSciComm são a atividade central do projeto NEWSERA, destinados a revelar o potencial dos projetos de ciência cidadã como mecanismos de comunicação de ciência e tecnologia. Os Laboratórios #CitSciComm, compostos por profissionais da comuni...
Assessing impact is a growingly urgent need for scientific research. Within the newly established... more Assessing impact is a growingly urgent need for scientific research. Within the newly established Horizon Europe program, citizen active participation, engagement and co-creation will become pivotal and thus proper impact assessment needs to be addressed. In this setting, Citizen Science (CS) arises as a fundamental tool for widening participation and contributing to reach social, economical, scientific and political impacts. However, dierent challenges have been described for CS impact assessment tools that impede a proper evaluation of communication actions. NEWSERA project tries to address current limitations from a dierent angle, by interpreting CS as part of the communication process. NEWSERA will thus analyse and evaluate the complex and multidirectional science communication strategies, including digital and non-digital ones, addressed to quadruple helix stakeholders in citizen science projects across Europe as the new paradigm for science communication (#CitSciComm). Our hyp...
Numa altura em que as relações entre ciência e sociedade adquirem cada vez mais protagonismo, ini... more Numa altura em que as relações entre ciência e sociedade adquirem cada vez mais protagonismo, iniciativas que permitam um maior envolvimento e diálogo entre ambas as partes ganham cada vez mais destaque. Neste contexto tem-se assistido a um enorme crescimento, ao longo da última década, de uma prática conhecida como ciência cidadã que, pelo facto de constituir uma forma de participação pública na investigação científica, potencia o avanço mais rápido do conhecimento científico, contribuindo para uma maior colaboração entre a ciência e a sociedade. Apresenta-se aqui um breve apanhado das principais características da ciência cidadã, de que forma esta prática surge no passado, mobilizando o envolvimento da sociedade daquele tempo, analisando, em particular exemplos relacionados com o registo da biodiversidade, e traçando algum do panorama atual em Portugal. Deixam-se algumas sugestões para o futuro desenvolvimento de ações nesta área, em particular estudos que analisem as motivações p...
CS study and practice in Iberoamerica and the Caribbean is widespread and diverse. We identified ... more CS study and practice in Iberoamerica and the Caribbean is widespread and diverse. We identified 30+ search terms that embody CS in the region. A search in SPA/POR/ENG bibliographical databases resulted in 200,000+ publications, mostly concentrated in 7 countries. Out of 685 documented CS experiences in 9 countries, 81% focus on biodiversity, ecology and environment, and natural resource management; 73% are local or subnational. Further research is urgent to include other countries and to understand diverse goals driving CS in the region: e.g., informing decisions to improve livelihoods and conserve; educating youth for social change; valuing different forms of knowledge.
Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expa... more Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date, including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (R1-fold coverage), 87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations. We find that two extinct horse lineages existed during early domestication, one at the far western (Iberia) and the other at the far eastern range (Siberia) of Eurasia. None of these contributed significantly to modern diversity. We show that the influence of Persian-related horse lineages increased following the Islamic conquests in Europe and Asia. Multiple alleles associated with elite-racing, including at the MSTN ''speed gene,'' only rose in popularity within the last millennium. Finally, the development of modern breeding impacted genetic diversity more dramatically than the previous millennia of human management.
There are three native Portuguese horse breeds: Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano. This study compare... more There are three native Portuguese horse breeds: Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano. This study compares diversity patterns of 17 protein and 12 microsatellite markers in these three as well as 30 other breeds to infer relationships among the breeds and to compare levels of polymorphism of these breeds for use in conservation efforts. The Garrano and the Lusitano showed a high level of genetic diversity, similar to that observed for most of the other analysed breeds, while the Sorraia and Friesian breeds showed low levels of variation for both genetic marker types. The combined protein and microsatellite data produced a tree that fit historical records well and with greater confidence levels than those for either data set alone. The combined genetic diversity and relationship information provides important baseline data for future breed conservation efforts, especially for a critically endangered breed such as the Sorraia.
Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted cont... more Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted continuously in the Iberian Peninsula since the Pleistocene and were taken to the American continent (New World) in the 15th century. To investigate the variation within the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of Iberian and New World horse breeds, to analyze their relationships, and to test the historical origin of New World horses, a total of 153 samples, representing 30 Iberian and New World breeds, were analyzed by sequencing mtDNA control region fragments. Fifty-four haplotypes were found and assigned to seven haplogroups. Reduced levels of variation found for the Menorquina, Sorraia, and Sulphur Mustang breeds are consistent with experienced bottlenecks or limited number of founders. For all diversity indices, Iberian breeds showed higher diversity values than South American and North American breeds. Although, the results show that the Iberian and New World breeds stem from multiple origins, we present a set of genetic data revealing a high frequency of Iberian haplotypes in New World breeds, which is consistent with historical documentation.
The Sorraia horse is a closed breed with reduced effective population size and considered in crit... more The Sorraia horse is a closed breed with reduced effective population size and considered in critical maintained risk status. The breed exists in 2 main breeding populations, one in Portugal and one in Germany, with a smaller population size. A set of 22 microsatellite loci was used to examine genetic diversity and structure of the Sorraia horse breed and to compare individual inbreeding coefficient F, estimated from pedigree data, with individual heterozygosity and mean d 2 . The Sorraia horse shows lower levels of microsatellite diversity when compared with other horse breeds. Due to management strategies, there are clear differences in the genetic structure of the 2 main Sorraia horse populations. Individual heterozygosity was shown to be a good estimator, used together with or as an alternative to inbreeding coefficient, in predicting fitness and evaluating the inbreeding level of the Sorraia horse. The information gathered in this study, combined with information available from previous studies, offers an important and wide information base for the future development of an effective breeding management of the Sorraia horse in order to preserve this endangered breed.
The role of European wild horses in horse domestication is poorly understood. While the fossil re... more The role of European wild horses in horse domestication is poorly understood. While the fossil record for wild horses in Europe prior to horse domestication is scarce, there have been suggestions that wild populations from various European regions might have contributed to the gene pool of domestic horses. To distinguish between regions where domestic populations are mainly descended from local wild stock and those where horses were largely imported, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity in 24 European horse breeds typed at 12 microsatellite loci. The distribution of high levels of genetic diversity in Europe coincides with the distribution of predominantly open landscapes prior to domestication, as suggested by simulation-based vegetation reconstructions, with breeds from Iberia and the Caspian Sea region having significantly higher genetic diversity than breeds from central Europe and the UK, which were largely forested at the time the first domestic horses appear there. Our results suggest that not only the Eastern steppes, but also the Iberian Peninsula provided refugia for wild horses in the Holocene, and that the genetic contribution of these wild populations to local domestic stock may have been considerable. In contrast, the consistently low levels of diversity in central Europe and the UK suggest that domestic horses in these regions largely derive from horses that were imported from the Eastern refugium, the Iberian refugium, or both.
Marismeño horses originated from primitive horses living around the marshes of the Guadalquivir R... more Marismeño horses originated from primitive horses living around the marshes of the Guadalquivir River in Southern Spain. Throughout their evolution, they have experienced crosses with other breeds, first with horses from North Africa and thereafter with other horses. However, they have not lost their ability to adapt to the demanding marsh environment. Recently, a studbook of the breed was established, and the Breeders Association started a conservation programme. To study the relationship of the Marismeño with other breeds, a microsatellite analysis was developed, which included other ancient Southern Iberian horse populations, such as the Sorraia and Retuertas breeds. Candidates of recent crossbreeding with Marismeño horses, such as the Hispano-Arabian and the Spanish Purebred, were studied, and the Thoroughbred and the Arabian breed were used as international references. The results indicated that the Marismeño horse population maintains a great genetic diversity. Despite recent crossbreeding, the fixation index and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis disclosed a certain homogeneity degree. A dendrogram was built using the obtained genetic distances, and clustering was performed with the software STRUCTURE, and the results reflected the genetic differentiation of the Marismeño horse from the other autochthonous Iberian breeds, although the Marismeño population has maintained a tight relationship with the Spanish Purebred. Remarkably, some relatedness between the Marismeño and the Barb horse breeds could be observed and was most likely derived from an ancient gene flow between the horses of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.
Various horse populations in the Americas have an origin in Spain; they are remnants of the first... more Various horse populations in the Americas have an origin in Spain; they are remnants of the first livestock introduced to the continent early in the colonial period (16th and 17th centuries). We evaluated genetic variability within the Venezuelan Criollo horse and its relationship with other horse breeds. We observed high levels of genetic diversity within the Criollo breed. Significant population differentiation was observed between all South American breeds. The Venezuelan Criollo horse showed high levels of genetic diversity, and from a conservation standpoint, there is no immediate danger of losing variation unless there is a large drop in population size.
The use of DNA technology for parentage testing is increasing every day. Most laboratories have i... more The use of DNA technology for parentage testing is increasing every day. Most laboratories have improved their exclusion probabilities (PE) by the addition of DNA microsatellite loci to standard blood-typing results. The efficacy of each locus depends on the number of alleles detected and their frequencies in the breeds tested. Here we analyzed the usefulness of six microsatellites for routine parentage testing in three Portuguese autochthonous horse breeds: Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano. The DNA loci analyzed -ASB2, HMS3, HMS7, HTG4, HTG10, and VHL20 -were chosen based upon the polymorphism detected in other breeds with Iberian horse influence. The estimated probability of exclusion of wrongly named parents (PE) was high, with values ranging from 88.5% to 99.6%.
Ancient DNA analysis has been an emergent area of research during the past few decades. With the ... more Ancient DNA analysis has been an emergent area of research during the past few decades. With the development of new molecular biology techniques it has become easier to retrieve genetic information from archaeological samples than was previously thought possible. This is of great importance as it helps us to clarify species phylogenies and understand the evolution of animals and plants. This area has been important in the study of domestication, since it sheds light on the processes through which animals became part of human societies. Here we address the domestication of the horse. Despite their significance in shaping societies through prehistoric and historic times, the nature and timing of horse domestication has been hard to document.
The mitochondrial control region sequence was compared between the two surviving matrilineal line... more The mitochondrial control region sequence was compared between the two surviving matrilineal lineages of the Sorraia horse. Two haplotypes were found, showing three differences between them. The reduced number of surviving maternal lineages emphasizes the importance of establishing a conservation plan for this endangered breed.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) typing based on microsatellites can be a valuable approach... more Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) typing based on microsatellites can be a valuable approach to understanding the selective processes occurring at linked or physically close MHC genes and can provide important information on variability and relationships of populations. Using microsatellites within or in close proximity with bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA) genes, we investigated the polymorphisms in the bovine MHC, known as the BoLA, in eight Portuguese cattle breeds. Additional data from non-BoLA microsatellite loci were also used to compare the variability between these regions. Diversity was higher in BoLA than in non-BoLA microsatellites, as could be observed by the number of alleles, allelic richness and observed heterozygosity. Brava de Lide, a breed selected for aggressiveness and nobility, presented the lowest values of observed heterozygosity and allelic richness in both markers. Results from neutrality tests showed few statistically significant differences between the observed Hardy-Weinberg homozygosity (F) and the expected homozygosity (F E ), indicating the apparent neutrality of the BoLA microsatellites within the analysed breeds. Nevertheless, we detected a trend of lower values of observed homozygosity compared with the expected one. We also detected some differences in the levels of allelic variability among the four BoLA microsatellites. Our data showed a higher number of alleles at the BoLA-DRB3 locus than at the BoLA-DRBP1 locus. These differences could be related to their physical position in the chromosome and may reflect functional requirements for diversity.
The present study intends to survey the genetic variability of an endangered semiferal Portuguese... more The present study intends to survey the genetic variability of an endangered semiferal Portuguese native pony breed, the Garrano. Thirteen microsatellite markers were examined in 277 animals born in 1998, belonging to eight subpopulations corresponding to eight northern Portuguese geographic regions. Mean heterozygosity (H o ) in the Garrano breed was 0.732, ranging from 0.531 to 0.857 across subpopulations. Allelic frequencies and diversity differed significantly between regions, suggesting the existence of genetic differentiation within the breed confirmed by the population differentiation estimator F ST . Allele sharing genetic distance (Dps) was used to determine the relationship between the analyzed subpopulations, some of which are diverging significantly from the others. Relationships among six Iberian horse breeds (including the Garrano) were assessed through the restricted maximum likelihood method, which clusters the Garrano with another Celtic pony, the Spanish Asturcon, traditionally bred in geographical continuity with the Garrano. Results reveal a statistically significant deficit of heterozygotes within the Garrano breed (F IT = 0.031, p < 0.05). Regular monitoring should therefore be implemented so that the effect of genetic drift within subpopulations, enhanced by inbreeding, may be successfully minimized.
HoST - Journal of History of Science and Technology, 2021
HoST-Journal of History of Science and Technology is a peer-reviewed open access journal, publish... more HoST-Journal of History of Science and Technology is a peer-reviewed open access journal, published online in English by De Gruyter/Sciendo and results of a partnership between four Portuguese research units (CIUHCT, CIDEHUS, ICS e IHC).
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 15.1
Special issue "Global Flora: Mastering Exotic Plants (Eighteenth-Nineteenth Centuries)"
This special issue includes an introduction by the guest editors Lorelai Kury and Sara Albuquerque followed by three articles that contribute to an analysis of plant circulation from the viewpoint of the science and techniques that sought to use or examine exotic species, particularly within the European circuit.
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Papers by Cristina Luis
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 15.1
Special issue "Global Flora: Mastering Exotic Plants (Eighteenth-Nineteenth Centuries)"
This special issue includes an introduction by the guest editors Lorelai Kury and Sara Albuquerque followed by three articles that contribute to an analysis of plant circulation from the viewpoint of the science and techniques that sought to use or examine exotic species, particularly within the European circuit.