Ecol Evol. 2011 Nov;1(3):408-20. doi: 10.1002/ece3.39.
We estimated neutral diversity of 21 European cattle breeds with 105 microsatellites. Nine of them resembled unselected Balkan Buša strains with diffuse breeding barriers and the 12 others were strongly differentiated, isolated breeds. Because of the impact of neutral genetic diversity on long-term population adaptive capacity, we discuss the long-term outcome of different conservation priorities in a subdivided metapopulation of the investigated cattle breeds. The optimal contribution to a pool of total genetic diversity allocated more than 95% of long-term relevant neutral diversity to virtually unselected strains of the Balkan Buša, while the maximization of total variance preferred inbred breeds. Current artificial selection methods, such as genomic selection sped up and a recovery of underestimated traits becomes quickly impossible. We emphasize that currently neutral and even deleterious alleles might be required for future genotypes in sustainable and efficient livestock breeding and production systems of a 21st century. We provide cumulative evidences that long-term survival relies on genetic complexity and complexity relies on allelic diversity. Our results suggest that virtually unselected, nonuniform strains harbor a crucial proportion of neutral diversity and should be conserved with high global priority. As one example, we suggest a cooperative maintenance of the nondifferentiated, highly fragmented, and fast vanishing metapopulation of Balkan Buša.
我们用 105 个微卫星估计了 21 个欧洲牛品种的中性多样性。其中 9 个品种类似于没有选择的巴尔干布沙（Balkan Buša）菌株，具有扩散的繁殖障碍，而另外 12 个品种则是高度分化、孤立的品种。由于中性遗传多样性对长期种群适应能力的影响，我们在调查的牛品种的一个细分的复合种群中讨论了不同保护重点的长期结果。最优的选择是将超过 95%的长期相关中性多样性分配给巴尔干布沙的几乎未经选择的菌株，而最大化总方差则偏向于近交品种。目前的人工选择方法，如基因组选择，加快了速度，并且低估的特征的恢复变得很快不可能。我们强调，目前中性甚至有害的等位基因可能是 21 世纪可持续和高效的牲畜养殖和生产系统未来基因型所必需的。我们提供了累积的证据表明，长期生存依赖于遗传复杂性，而复杂性依赖于等位基因多样性。我们的结果表明，几乎未经选择的、非均匀的菌株蕴藏着重要的中性多样性比例，应该以高度的全球优先级来保护。例如，我们建议合作维护巴尔干布沙的非分化、高度碎片化和快速消失的复合种群。
