Diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphism markers to identify hybridization between dromedary and Bactrian camels.

Abstract

The technique to produce hybrid Tulu or Nar camels from crosses between dromedary and Bactrian camels is common throughout Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. Formerly, these hybrids were highly valued as strong and persistent pack animals but today are bred to improve milk or wool quality in the respective species and for camel wrestling. We developed a diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel to identify cryptic ancestry in F₁ hybrids and their backcrosses by selecting loci from whole genome data, which were fixed for different alleles in either dromedary or domestic and wild Bactrian camel. With this SNP panel we are able to identify the hybridization patterns in camels with uncertain origins, support hybrid breeding management and to detect potential rare dromedary introgression in the last wild Bactrian camels in Mongolia and China.