Domestic horse

Adaptive evolution of the mitochondrial ND6 gene in the domestic horse

T. Ning, Xiao, H., Li, J., Hua, S., and Zhang, Y. P., Adaptive evolution of the mitochondrial ND6 gene in the domestic horse, vol. 9, pp. 144-150, 2010.

Mitochondria play a crucial role in energy metabolism through oxidative phosphorylation. Organisms living at high altitudes are potentially influenced by oxygen deficits and cold temperatures. The severe environmental conditions can impact on metabolism and direct selection of mitochondrial DNA. As a wide-ranging animal, the domestic horse (Equus caballus) has developed various morphological and physiological characteristics for adapting to different altitudes. Thus, this is a good species for studying adaption to high altitudes at a molecular level.

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