Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus)

Saffet Teber

doi:10.23902/trkjnat.2025716

Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus)

Abstract

Background: Horses (Equus caballus) have been selectively bred for numerous purposes since their domestication, leading to various breeds and increased genetic diversity within the species. Aims: This study focused on the mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish feral (yılkı) and domestic horse breeds. Methods: In this study, the whole mitogenomes of Turkish feral (yılkı) and domestic horse breeds were first amplified using longrange polymerase chain reaction, sequenced with ~4000× coverage on the Illumina MiSeq platform, and their phylogenetic relationships were subsequently analyzed. Results: The mitogenomes of Turkish horses were 16657 base pairs in length, encompassing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, one origin of replication (OL), and one non-coding control region (displacement-loop). In the mitogenomes, the ND6 gene and eight tRNAs (tRNAGln, tRNAAla, tRNAAsn, tRNACys, tRNATyr, tRNASer(UCN), tRNAGlu, and tRNAPro) were encoded on the light strand (L), while the origin of replication (OL), 12 PCGs, 14 tRNAs, and two rRNA genes were encoded on the heavy strand (H). A total of 45 gaps and 68 overlaps were identified in the intergenic regions of the assembled mitogenomes. In the Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree, the feral (yılkı) horse clustered within haplogroup A together with breeds from North America, the Middle East, Southern Europe, and Central Asia, while the domestic horse was clustered in haplogroup B together with breeds from Southern Europe and Central Europe. Conclusion: This study significantly contributes to evolutionary biology, genetic diversity, and conservation by providing the first comprehensive mitogenome data for Turkish horses, establishing a foundational resource for future comparative and evolutionary genomic research.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The Scientific Research Projects (BAP) of Erciyes University

Project Number

FBAÜ-2023-12262

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Erciyes University Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments (approval number: 23/061, dated: 05.04.2023).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Molecular Evolution

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Saffet Teber
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 9, 2026

Submission Date

August 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 3, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 27 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.23902/trkjnat.2025716

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA39ZR63FZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Teber, S. (2026). Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus). Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences, 27(1), 3-13. https://doi.org/10.23902/trkjnat.2025716

AMA

1.Teber S. Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus). Trakya Univ J Nat Sci. 2026;27(1):3-13. doi:10.23902/trkjnat.2025716

Chicago

Teber, Saffet. 2026. “Mitogenome Characterization and Phylogenetic Relationships of Turkish Horses (Equus Caballus)”. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences 27 (1): 3-13. https://doi.org/10.23902/trkjnat.2025716.

EndNote

Teber S (July 1, 2026) Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus). Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences 27 1 3–13.

IEEE

[1]S. Teber, “Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus)”, Trakya Univ J Nat Sci, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 3–13, July 2026, doi: 10.23902/trkjnat.2025716.

ISNAD

Teber, Saffet. “Mitogenome Characterization and Phylogenetic Relationships of Turkish Horses (Equus Caballus)”. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences 27/1 (July 1, 2026): 3-13. https://doi.org/10.23902/trkjnat.2025716.

JAMA

1.Teber S. Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus). Trakya Univ J Nat Sci. 2026;27:3–13.

MLA

Teber, Saffet. “Mitogenome Characterization and Phylogenetic Relationships of Turkish Horses (Equus Caballus)”. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences, vol. 27, no. 1, July 2026, pp. 3-13, doi:10.23902/trkjnat.2025716.

Vancouver

1.Saffet Teber. Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Turkish horses (Equus caballus). Trakya Univ J Nat Sci. 2026 Jul. 1;27(1):3-13. doi:10.23902/trkjnat.2025716