Imprints of Domestication in the Sheep Genome

Depending on the age and location of archaeological sites, we can infer the place and time of domestication. The study of genetic similarities between species also makes it possible to determine which wild species the populations domesticated 10,500 years ago belong to. In the vicinity of documented domestication sites, there are several species of mouflon that could potentially be the ancestor of domestic sheep. An important imprint of domestication in the animal genome is the selection made by humans to keep the animals best suited to their needs and environment. We can roughly distinguish three groups of traits selected during domestication. Firstly, a set of morphological, physiological and behavioral traits shared by many domesticated mammal species. The study of genetic imprints left by the domestication process in sheep genomes provides a better understanding of the events that have shaped breed diversity today.