Maternal Origins and Historical Dynamics of Ethiopian Indigenous Goats Based on Mitochondrial DNA Variation

We analyzed mtDNA d-loop of 309 individuals representing 13 populations of Ethiopian indigenous goats to investigate the maternal genetic variation and historical demographic profiles. We observed 174 variable sites that generated 231 haplotypes which defined two haplogroups with a high maternal genetic diversity. A combined analysis involving reference haplotypes representing six globally defined haplogroups revealed the two haplogroups to be A and G. The analysis also revealed three haplotypes from the two haplogroups that were shared between Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya and Saudi Arabia, revealing a common history while indicating the introduction of goats into East Africa from Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. Bayesian coalescent-based analysis showed an earlier expansion for haplogroup A in East Africa. The lack of phylogeographic structure and a low level of population differentiation (overall F_ST= 0.0245) suggest extensive past and present gene flow amongst indigenous goats mediated by human socio-cultural and economic interactions.