Hardy C, Callou C, Vigne J D, Casane D, Dennebouy N, Mounolou J C, Monnerot M
Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
J Mol Evol. 1995 Mar;40(3):227-37. doi: 10.1007/BF00163228.
The mitochondrial genetic variability in European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations present in Europe and North Africa from 11,000 years ago to the present day has been analyzed using ancient DNA techniques. DNA was extracted from 90 rabbit bones found in 22 archaeological sites dated between the Mesolithic and recent times. Nucleotide sequences present in a variable 233-bp domain of the cytochrome b gene were compared to those present in modern-day rabbits. The results show that the structure of ancient populations of wild rabbit exhibited remarkable stability over time until the Middle Ages. At this time, a novel type of mtDNA molecule abruptly appears into most wild populations studied from France. This mtDNA type corresponds to that currently present in the domestic breeds of rabbit examined so far. The relative rapidity by which this mtDNA type established and its absence in all sites examined before 1,700 years ago lend support to the hypothesis that between 2,000 and 1,000 years ago, man may have favored the development, into all regions of France, of animals carrying this particular mtDNA molecule. The origin of such animals has still to be found: animals previously living outside of France or within France but in very restricted areas? This event was concomitant with the documented establishment of warrens after the tenth century A.D. in Europe.
利用古DNA技术分析了欧洲和北非从11000年前至今的欧洲野兔（穴兔）种群的线粒体遗传变异性。从22个可追溯到中石器时代至近代的考古遗址中发现的90块兔骨中提取了DNA。将细胞色素b基因可变的233碱基对区域中的核苷酸序列与现代兔子中的序列进行了比较。结果表明，直到中世纪，野兔古代种群的结构随时间呈现出显著的稳定性。此时，一种新型的线粒体DNA分子突然出现在大多数来自法国的野生种群中。这种线粒体DNA类型与目前在所有已检测的家兔品种中存在的类型相对应。这种线粒体DNA类型建立的相对速度以及在1700年前所有检测地点中均不存在这一情况，支持了这样一种假设，即2000至1000年前，人类可能促进了携带这种特殊线粒体DNA分子的动物在法国所有地区的发展。此类动物的起源仍有待探寻：是先前生活在法国境外的动物，还是法国境内但分布非常有限区域内的动物？这一事件与公元十世纪后欧洲有记载的兔穴建立相伴发生。
