What is it about?
We analyzed genomic data from three species of camels to detect gene flow between species. In contrast to an earlier study, we find strong and robust evidence for gene flow from the domestic two-humped Bactrian camel to the wild species, raising concerns about the impact of hybridization on the genetic integrity of the wild species.
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Why is it important?
Genetic introgression from the domestic camels into the wild species threatens the conservation of the wild species, which is critically endangered.
Perspectives
The wild two-humped camels are found only in the Mongolian Gobi desert, and Taklimakan and Lop Noor deserts in China. The species is critically endangered due to habitat loss and hybridization with escaped domestic camels. Our study using genomic data reveals strong and robust evidence for gene flow from the domestic species into the wild species, raising concerns about the conservation of the wild species.
Ziheng Yang
University College London
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The power of coalescent methods for inferring recent and ancient gene flow in endangered Bactrian camels, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2410949122.
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