Whole-genome resequencing reveals genomic characteristics and candidate genomic regions potentially associated with local adaptation of Leiwuqi yak (Bos grunniens)

Description

Shi and colleagues re-sequenced in 2026 the genomes of 110 Leiwuqi yaks, an indigenous breed from eastern Tibet, to map its genetic makeup and local adaptation. Yak are vital high-altitude livestock, but this breed's traits were poorly charted. The team merged their data with public genomes from other domestic and wild yak groups, applying one strict pipeline to all samples.

Shi found nearly twenty million high-quality variants across the samples, mostly in non-coding regions. The breed kept rich genetic diversity, though stretches of uniform DNA hinted at isolation or recent inbreeding. Chinese domestic yaks shared a broad background with wild yak, while Indian yak stood clearly apart. The breed did not form its own genome-wide cluster. Yet selected regions held 466 protein-coding genes tied to development signals, immune and stress response, and light sensing. Together they sketch how local adaptation may have formed.

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Source: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/PMC13461415