东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡线粒体基因组序列测定与分析

喜马拉雅雪鸡属国家二级保护动物,是生存海拔最高的鸡类,同时在维持生态平衡和鸟类高海拔适应性研究中具有重要的科研价值。本研究以东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡为研究对象,采用直接测序法,拼接组装获得该物种线粒体(mtDNA)全基因组序列,对mtDNA全序列进行注释和结构分析,并选择GenBank已提交的鸡形目鸟类mtDNA序列,利用邻接法构建系统发育树,为该物种的有效保护和开发利用提供分子水平的依据。结果表明:喜马拉雅雪鸡的mtDNA全长为16 691 bp,基因种类、数量及排列顺序与鸟类线粒体基因典型排列顺序一致。基因组核苷酸含量为A:30.2%;T:23.9%;C:32.2%;G:13.8%;(A+T)含量(54%)略高于G+C (46%)含量,AT-skew为0.116 7,有一定的碱基偏好。在本研究中,东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡起始密码子以ATG为主,终止密码子以TAA为主。预测了22个tRNA的二级结构,均能形成典型的三叶草结构,共有错配25处,以GU错配为主,喜马拉雅雪鸡tRNASer (UCN)基因比藏雪鸡的tRNASer (UCN)基因多出3个碱基;系统发育树构建表明雪鸡与鹌鹑关系最近,我们发现东帕米尔高原喜马拉雅雪鸡与甘肃阿克塞自治县喜马拉雅雪鸡形成两个独立的进化支。     

褐马鸡圈养种群的mtDNA控制区多态性

褐马鸡(Crossoptilon mantchuricum)是我国特有的濒危鸟类,国家一级保护动物。为了保护褐马鸡的种质资源,从分子水平上评价褐马鸡的遗传多样性,对山西省庞泉沟自然保护区、太原市动物园的褐马鸡种群20个个体,线粒体DNA D-loop区全序列进行了克隆和测定,使用Clustal X、DnaSP4.0、Mega3.1等生物信息学软件,对全部20条序列开展了比对分析,确定了多态位点与单倍型数目,计算了核苷酸多样性和单倍型多样性;比较了两个种群的遗传变异,初步探讨了褐马鸡种群的遗传多样性和遗传结构。结果表明:20条褐马鸡线粒体DNA D-loop区全序列长度在1236 1237bp之间,其中A、T、G和C 4种核苷酸的平均含量分别为31.0%、26.8%、27.5%和14.8%,A+T含量(57.8%)高于G+C含量(42.3%)。排除1处核苷酸的插入或缺失后,共检测出26个突变位点,占分析序列总长度的2.1%,其中包括25处单一多态位点和1处简约信息位点。20个个体检测出13个单倍型,其中11个个体具有独特的单倍型,2个共享单倍型。褐马鸡两个种群的单倍型多样性(h)为0.911 0.933,核苷酸多样性(π)为0.002 0.003,单倍型间的遗传距离为0.003 0.002。根据单倍型构建了褐马鸡两个种群的NJ分子系统树。聚类表明,2个种群的个体并没有按相应的地理位置进行聚类。揭示褐马鸡具有较高的单倍型多样性和较低的核苷酸多样性,种群的遗传变异较低;两个种群单倍型间的遗传距离较近,遗传多样性参数接近,统计分析无显著差异,两个种群尚未表现出明显的遗传分化,且两个种群间有基因流存在。     

西藏藏猪遗传多样性研究

采用mt DNA D-loop作为分子标记,对西藏的4个藏猪群体(林芝、山南、昌都和日喀则)遗传多样性进行了研究。结果表明,西藏藏猪mt DNA D-loop高变区A+T含量(62.90%)明显高于G+C含量(37.1%),富含A和T,存在碱基偏倚性。在长度为435 bp的序列中,共检测到20个变异位点,界定了26个单倍型,单倍型多样度(Hd)为0.705±0.021,平均核苷酸差异数(k)为1.231,核苷酸多样度(Pi)为0.002 83。其中,Hd、k和Pi在昌都藏猪群体中最高,日喀则藏猪最低。此外,Hap1和Hap3单倍型是4个群体的共享单倍型,表明4个藏猪群体存在两个共同的母系祖先单倍型。     

怒江三种裂腹鱼属鱼类种群遗传结构

2007年4月到2008年8月,在怒江收集116尾光唇裂腹鱼,76尾保山裂腹鱼,35尾贡山裂腹鱼,测定其线粒体cytb基因序列以评估其遗传多样性。结果显示,光唇裂腹鱼116个cytb序列中定义了9个单倍型,14个多态位点,种群平均单倍型多样性Hd=0.8399±0.0124,核苷酸多样性pi=0.0025±0.0015。保山裂腹鱼76个cytb序列中定义3个单倍型,23个多态位点,种群平均单倍型多样性Hd=0.5544±0.0449,核苷酸多样性pi=0.0080±0.0041。35尾贡山裂腹鱼样本的cytb序列中定义8个单倍型,13个多态位点,种群平均单倍型多样性Hd=0.7664±0.0556,核苷酸多样性pi=0.0017±0.0011。由于近期的环境污染、水工建设、捕捞压力等使3种鱼各自在怒江下游形成隔离的、遗传结构简单的小种群。光唇裂腹鱼和贡山裂腹鱼历史上都经历过种群扩张,近期种群萎缩。约在(1.11±0.22)MaBP,保山裂腹鱼的烂渣河和保山东河2个种群分离,因此应当做2个进化显著单元进行管理。     

普氏野马线粒体DNA D-loop区序列多态性研究

目的:了解中国新疆吉木萨尔野马繁殖中心的普氏野马(Equus przewalskii)遗传多样性及其遗传背景.方法:采用PCR产物直接测序法,对15匹普氏野马线粒体DNA D-loop高变区进行测序分析.结果:测定15个个体的线粒体DNA D-loop高变区15464～15866片段序列402bp.检测到12种单倍型,包括37个多态位点,占全部序列的9.2%,其中转换位点24个、颠换位点20个、转换位点和颠换并存位点8个、缺失位点3个.A%+T%含量(56.1%)高于G%+C%含量(43.9%),平均A含量为28.4%,T含量为27.7%,C含量为29%,G含为14.9%.单倍型间平均遗传距离为0.030,单倍型多态性(h)为1±0.00116,核苷酸多态性(π)为2.90%.15匹普氏野马线粒体DNA D-loop高变区之间平均核苷酸变异率为2.48%.结论:研究表明我国新疆吉木萨尔野马繁殖中心的普氏野马线粒体DNA D-loop区序列存在丰富的多态性.     

多浪羊mtDNA D-loop区遗传多样性及系统发育分析

以多浪羊为研究对象,分析绵羊线粒体D-loop区的遗传多样性,为研究多浪羊的起源和进化历史奠定基础。结果显示,多浪羊线粒体DNA D-loop序列长度为945~1 039 bp,A、T、G和C含量分别为29.4%、27.7%、17.7%和25.1%,其中A+T为57.1%,G+C为42.8%。研究获得了26种单倍型,56个多态位点,其中单一多态位点42个,简约信息位点14个。平均核苷酸差异数k为5.289,核苷酸多样度Pi为0.02 415,核苷酸多样度较低,说明多浪羊的遗传多样性贫乏,应采取重点措施予以保护。另外研究发现多浪羊经历过群体扩张,其母系起源除A、B和C世系外,可能存在D或E世系。     

圈养及野生藏酋猴子代遗传多样性差异分析

为评价圈养及野生藏酋猴Macaca thibetana子代遗传多样性的差异,本研究利用藏酋猴线粒体控制区(mt DNA D-loop)全长序列,对四川省金阳地区野生亲本及子一代、马边地区野生亲本及圈养繁殖子一代共102只个体开展了遗传结构变异分析。结果显示,藏酋猴mt DNA D-loop的序列长度为1 091 bp,包括115个变异位点,66个单倍型,其中,马边种群亲本与子一代共享2个单倍型,金阳种群亲本与子一代共享1个单倍型。马边种群2个世代个体的核苷酸多态性分别为0.004 77和0.004 09;而金阳种群2个世代个体的核苷酸多态性分别为0.002 30和0.002 78,子一代与亲本的遗传多样性差异无统计学意义,均处于较低水平。马边和金阳地区子一代与亲本之间的遗传距离分别为0.024 09和0.002 55,表明圈养和野生条件下的子一代与亲本间均未出现明显的遗传分化。根据D-loop全长序列所构建的邻接(NJ)树显示,金阳或马边地区的不同世代个体在NJ树上互相交叉,未形成独有的进化支,说明无论自然条件下的随机交配还是圈养繁育的人为选择压力均没有对藏酋猴种群的遗传结构造成大的影响。本研究首次利用mt DNA D-loop全长序列分析藏酋猴野外与圈养繁殖的亲本与子一代间的遗传差异,为藏酋猴实验动物遗传控制标准化提供数据支持。     

野牦牛（Bos grunniens mutus）mtDNA D\|Loop区的遗传多样性

为从分子水平上评价野牦牛(Bos grunniens mutus)的遗传多样性,对6头野牦公牛线粒体DNA D-loop 区全序列进行了克隆和测定(GenBank登录号为:FJ548840～FJ548845),结合GenBank中已刊登的2条野牦牛的相应序列,使用BioEdit 7 0 9、DnaSP 4.10.1、Arlequin 3.11等生物信息学软件,对全部8条序列开展了比对分析,确定了多态位点与单倍型数目,计算了核苷酸多样度和单倍型多样度.结果表明8条野牦牛线粒体DNA D-loop 区全序列长度在891～894 bp之间,其中A、T、G和C 4种核苷酸的平均含量分别为32.68%、28.65%、13.46%和25.21%,A+T的平均含量为61.33%.排除4处核苷酸的插入或缺失后,共检测到39处转换和颠换位点,占分析序列总长度的4.38%,其中包括4处单一多态位点和35处简约信息位点.依据序列间核苷酸变异共确定了7种单倍型,单倍型多样度(h)为0.9643,核苷酸多样度(π)为0.02144,提示野牦牛群体具有丰富的遗传多样性.     

基于mtDNA D-loop部分序列的软刺裸裂尻鱼遗传多样性分析

软刺裸裂尻鱼Schizopygopsis malacanthus是青藏高原特有鱼类。本研究测定了青海省玉树藏族自治州3个软刺裸裂尻鱼野生群体（隆宝滩国家级自然保护区、巴塘河上游、巴塘河下游）共72尾的mtDNA D-loop的部分序列（610 bp）,分析了其遗传多样性和种群遗传结构,旨在为玉树软刺裸裂尻鱼野生资源保护和合理开发提供理论依据。共发现29个多态位点,定义了16个单倍型。3个种群的单倍型多样性为0.438±0.121～0.676±0.076,核苷酸多样性为0.003 4±0.000 5～0.008 6±0.001 3。群体遗传分化指数统计检验表明,两两群体之间的差异均极显著。基因流分析结果表明,巴塘河上、下游种群之间的基因流水平较高,个体交流频繁。AMOVA分析结果显示,79.49%的遗传变异来自于种群间,20.51%的遗传变异来自于种群内,群体间遗传分化极显著。系统发育树和单倍型进化网络结果显示,3个种群的单倍型按照隆宝滩国家级自然保护区和巴塘河水系形成2大类群。中性检验结果表明,软刺裸裂尻鱼近期未出现显著的种群扩张事件。建议将分布在隆宝滩国家级自然保护区和巴塘河水系的软...     

舟山小黄鱼线粒体DNA D-loop区序列变异的遗传多样性分析

小黄鱼(Pseudosciaena polyactis)为我国重要海产经济鱼类之一,过度捕捞和环境污染等因素造成其资源日益衰退。研究小黄鱼种群遗传结构对其资源的保护及其可持续利用有十分重要的意义。该研究采用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)技术对浙江舟山附近海域小黄鱼种群53个个体的mtDNA D-loop区全序列进行扩增,序列长度在795~801bp之间,长度差异不大。采用ClustalX1.83、MEGA3.1、DnaSP4.0等生物信息学软件进行遗传多样性分析,结果显示:53条小黄鱼线粒体DNA D-loop区的T、C、A和G碱基平均含量分别为30.3%、23.1%、32.3%和14.3%,排除13处核苷酸的插入或缺失后,共检测到93处转换和颠换位点,约占分析序列总长度的11.6%,其中包括53个单一多态位点和40个简约信息位点,共确定了52种单倍型,单倍型多样性(hd)为0.9993,单倍型间的平均遗传距离为0.012,转换/颠换平均值为4.305,平均核苷酸差异数(k)为9.73875,核苷酸多样性(π)为0.01233,表明舟山小黄鱼遗传多样性处于中等水平。     

The uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and glacial oscillations triggered the diversification of Tetraogallus (Galliformes,Phasianidae)

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) plays an important role in avian diversification. To reveal the relationship between the QTP uplift and avian diversification since the Late Cenozoic, here, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationship and biogeographical pattern of the genus Tetraogallus (Galliformes, Phasianidae) and the probable factors of speciation in the period of the QTP uplift inferred from concatenated data of four nuclear and five mitochondrial genes using the method of the Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that T. himalayensis had a close relationship with T. altaicus and conflicted with the previous taxonomy of dark‐bellied and white‐bellied groups. The molecular clock showed that the speciation of Tetraogallus was profoundly affected by the uplift of the QTP and glacial oscillations. Biogeographic analysis suggested that the extant snowcocks originated from the QTP, and the QTP uplift and glacial oscillations triggered the diversification of Tetraogallus ancestor. Specifically, the uplift of the mountain provided a prerequisite for the colonization of snowcocks Tetraogallus as a result of the collision between the Indian and the Arab plates and the Eurasian plate, in which ecological isolation (the glacial and interglacial periods alternate) and geographical barrier had accelerated the Tetraogallus diversification process. Interestingly, we discovered hybrids between T. tibetanus and T. himalayensis for the first time and suggested that T. tibetanus and T. himalayensis hybridized after a second contact during the glacial period. Here, we proposed that the hybrid offspring was the ancestor of the T. altaicus. In conclusion, the uplift of QTP and glacial oscillations triggered the snowcocks colonization, and then, isolation and introgression hybridization promoted diversification.     

青藏高原濒危植物唐古特大黄的遗传多样性

唐古特大黄(Rheum tanguticum)是中国传统的中藏药材,近几年由于生境的严重破坏,已濒临灭绝,并被列入濒危植物名单。为了探索唐古特大黄物种濒危的原因并保护其野生资源,本研究采集了9个居群87个个体的唐古特大黄样本,基于该物种的叶绿体基因trn S-G序列对其进行了遗传多样性研究。结果表明,唐古特大黄物种具有较高的遗传多样性水平(Ht=0.694),其中95.97%的遗传分化来自于居群间(G_(ST)=0.960),4.03%的遗传分化来自于居群内(Hs=0.028)。AMOVA分析也显示唐古特大黄居群间基因流较小(N_m=0.01),存在较高的遗传分化(F_(ST)=0.9631)。唐古特大黄较高的遗传多样性水平可能与该物种较长的进化史和生活史有关,居群间较高的遗传分化可能与高山地区特殊的地理环境和人类活动有关。根据研究结果,建议对唐古特大黄所有野生居群进行就地保护,同时收集种质资源开展异地繁殖工作,以保护物种的遗传多样性,维持其进化潜力。     

暗腹雪鸡与海兰褐鸡血液生理生化指标的比较

为了解暗腹雪鸡（Tetraogallus himalayensis）正常血液生理生化特性,本文对暗腹雪鸡21项血液生理生化指标进行了测定,并与海兰褐鸡（Gallus gallus domesticus var. Hyline）进行了比较。测定结果,暗腹雪鸡的红细胞纵径及横纵径乘积、平均红细胞容积及平均红细胞血红蛋白含量极显著大于海兰褐鸡（P<0.01）;暗腹雪鸡天冬氨酸氨基转移酶和胆固醇含量均极显著高于海兰褐鸡（P<0.01）。其他各项血液生理生化指标两禽种间之间差异不显著。实验结果表明,暗腹雪鸡血液生理生化指标与家养蛋鸡之间有一定差异,暗腹雪鸡对高原低氧环境有较强的适应性可能与其红细胞体积较大、平均红细胞容积及平均红细胞血红蛋白含量较高有一定关系。     

Genetic diversity in the bronze gudgeon, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coreius heterodon</Emphasis>, from the Yangtze River system based on mtDNA sequences of the control region

The bronze gudgeon, Coreius heterodon (Bleeker), is an economically important species, which only inhabits the Yangtze River. The stock declined drastically in recent years due to dam construction, over-fishing, and pollution. Little is known about its population genetic structure. In this study, the sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control regions of natural bronze gudgeon was determined for fish collected from four sites in the Yangtze River (n = 102). The molecular data were used to estimate the genetic diversity and differentiation of the bronze gudgeon. The results showed that 28 haplotypes and 22 variable sites were found, and the haplotype diversity (π) and nucleotide diversity (h) were 0.849 and 0.00257, respectively. A low level of genetic diversity exists in the bronze gudgeon. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) suggests that 98.8% of the genetic variability occurred within the populations; the site of collection had little influence on diversity. Future research should focus on investigating the genetic divergence of populations in different tributaries and using additional polymorphic markers, such as microsatellite DNA, to verify the results and improve interpretation.     

Genetic characterization of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) populations from Greece using mitochondrial DNA sequences

Wild common carp from two lakes and two rivers in Greece were genetically characterized with sequencing analysis of two mitochondrial DNA segments: cytochrome b (1119 bp) and D-loop (646 bp). A total of 9 variable singleton sites and 7 unique haplotypes were detected. A common haplotype was found in three out of the four populations examined, which seems to be the ancestral one and represents the European origin of common carp from Greece. This haplotype could be also justified by the introductions reported with individuals belonging to the Central European race, into many natural habitats in Greece. Limited genetic variation — in Evros and Aliakmonas populations — could be due to bottleneck effects and small effective population sizes, whereas the different haplotypes found in Lake Volvi could represent different common carp stocks. Values of sequence divergence among Greek haplotypes ranged from 0.0006 to 0.0023. The Neighbour-Joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree constructed based on the combined sequences, reveals that the populations of common carp from Greece belong to the European group of populations — which is highly divergent from the South East-Asia cluster — and to the subspecies Cyprinus carpio carpio.     

Sequence diversity of a domesticated transposase gene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">MUG1</Emphasis>, in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza</Emphasis> species

MUG1 is a MULE transposon-related domesticated gene in plants. We assessed the sequence diversity, neutrality, expression, and phylogenetics of the MUG1 gene among Oryza ssp. We found MUG1 expression in all tissues analyzed, with different levels in O. sativa. There were 408 variation sites in the 3886 bp of MUG1 locus. The nucleotide diversity of the MUG1 was higher than functionally known genes in rice. The nucleotide diversity (π) in the domains was lower than the average nucleotide diversity in whole coding region. The π values in nonsynonymous sites were lower than those of synonymous sites. Tajima D and Fu and Li D* values were mostly negative values, suggesting purifying selection in MUG1 sequences of Oryza ssp. Genome-specific variation and phylogenetic analyses show a general grouping of MUG1 sequences congruent with Oryza ssp. biogeography; however, our MUG1 phylogenetic results, in combination with separate B and D genome studies, might suggest an early divergence of the Oryza ssp. by continental drift of Gondwanaland. O. longistaminata MUG1 divergence from other AA diploids suggests that it might not be a direct ancestor of the African rice species. These authors contributed equally to this work.     

陕西省林麝mtDNA D-loop区序列结构和种群遗传多样性

林麝(Moschus berezovskii)曾广泛分布于中国,由于盗猎和栖息地缩小,秦岭地区野生种群数量迅速下降,圈养繁殖种群已成立了几十年,但大多数圈养种群的遗传背景不清,种群规模增长非常缓慢。为了给这一物种的保护和管理提供有用的信息,调查了陕西省林麝1个圈养种群3个野生种群线粒体DNA(mt DNA)D-Loop 632 bp片段的遗传多样性和种群结构。在69个个体中其碱基组成为A+T的平均含量63.2%高于G+C含量36.8%,共检测到变异位点171个(约占总位点数的27.05%)。核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.04424,平均核苷酸差异数(K)为19.908。69个个体分属32个单倍型,单倍型间的平均遗传距离(P)为0.070。32个单倍型构建的NJ系统树聚为3个分支,4个林麝群体中的单倍型是随机分布的。4个群体的平均遗传距离为0.043(标准误SE为0.005),凤县养殖场群体与留坝和陇县群体的亲缘关系较远。单倍型间的平均遗传距离为0.043,可见其遗传分化尚未达到种群分化的水平。结果表明,陕西省林麝群体mt DNA D-loop区序列存在着较丰富的变异和遗传多样性,凤县野生群体和凤县养殖场群体的核苷酸多样性和单倍型多样较高,养殖场种群没有出现近亲繁殖及遗传多样性下降的情况。凤县野生群体和凤县养殖场群体两者遗传分化较小,存在着较高的基因流水平。     

中国狼不同地理种群遗传多样性及系统进化分析

为了解中国狼不同地理种群遗传多样性及系统发育情况,从中国境内狼的主要分布区青海、新疆、内蒙古和吉林4个地区采集样品,用分子生物学技术手段成功地获得44个个体线粒体DNA控制区第一高变区(HVRⅠ)序列和40个线粒体Cyt b部分序列。线粒体控制区HVRⅠ共检测到51个变异位点,位点变异率为8.76%;线粒体Cyt b部分序列发现31个变异位点,位点变异率为5.33%,未见插入及缺失现象,变异类型全部为碱基置换。共定义了16个线粒体HVRⅠ单倍型,其中吉林与内蒙种群存在共享单倍型,估计这两地间种群亲缘关系较近。4个地理种群中新疆种群拥有较高的遗传多样性(0.94)。中国狼种群总体平均核苷酸多态性为2.27%,与世界其他国家地区相比,中国狼种群拥有相对较高的遗传多样性。通过线粒体HVRⅠ单倍型构建的系统进化树可以看出,中国狼在进化上分为2大支,其中位于青藏高原的青海种群独立为一支,推测其可能长期作为独立种群进化。基于青海种群与新疆,内蒙种群的线粒体Cyt b遗传距离,推测中国狼2个世系可能在更新世冰川时期青藏高原受地质作用急速隆起后出现分歧,分歧时间大约在1.1 MY前。     

Rhodotorula himalayensis sp. nov., a novel psychrophilic yeast isolated from Roopkund Lake of the Himalayan mountain ranges, India

Twenty-five psychrophilic yeasts were isolated from the soil of Roopkund Lake, Himalayas, India. Two colony morphotypes were identified and representatives of ‘morphotype 1’ were identified as Cryptococcus gastricus. Representatives of ‘morphotype 2’, namely 3A^T, 4A, 4B and Rup4B, showed similar phenotypic properties and are identical with respect to the nucleotide sequence of the ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene-ITS2 region and D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene. The sequence of D1/D2 domain of 3A^T shows 97.6–98.8% similarity with Rhodotorula psychrophila CBS10440^T, Rhodotorula glacialis CBS10437^T and Rhodotorula psychrophenolica CBS10438^T and in the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree strains; 3A^T, 4A, 4B and Rup4B form a cluster with Rhodotorula glacialis and Rhodotorula psychrophila. Strains 3A^T, 4A, 4B and Rup4B also differ from their nearest phylogenetic relatives in several biochemical characteristics such as in assimilation of d-galactose, l-sorbose, maltose, citrate, d-glucuronate and creatinine. Thus, based on the phylogenetic analysis and the phenotypic differences 3A^T, 4A, 4B and Rup 4B are assigned the status of a new species of Rhodotorula for which the name Rhodotorula himalayensis sp. nov. is proposed with 3A^T as the type strain (=CBS10539^T =MTCC8336^T). GenBank/EMBL accession numbers for (partial) 18SrRNA gene-ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene-ITS2-26S rRNA gene (partial) sequences of Rhodotorula himalayensis sp. nov. 3A^T is AM410635.     

mtDNA Diversity and genetic lineages of eighteen cattle breeds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos taurus </Emphasis>and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Bos indicus</Emphasis> in China

In order to clarify the origin and genetic diversity of indigenous cattle breeds in China, we carried out phylogenetic analysis of representatives of those breeds by employing mitochondrial gene polymorphism. Complete cyt b gene sequences, 1140 bp in length, were determined for a total of 136 individuals from 18 different breeds and these sequences were clustered into two distinct genetic lineages: taurine (Bos taurus) and zebu (Bos indicus). In analysis of the cyt b gene diversity, Chinese cattle showed higher nucleotide (0.00923) and haplotype diversity (0.848) than the reports from other studies, and the animals from the taurine lineage indicated higher nucleotide diversity (0.00330) and haplotype diversity (0.746) than the ones from the zebu lineage (0.00136; 0.661). The zebu mtDNA dominated in the southern breeds (63.3–100%), while the taurine dominated in the northern breeds (81.8–100%). Six cattle breeds from the central area of China exhibited intermediate frequencies of zebu mtDNA (25–71.4%). This polymorphism revealed a declining south-to-north gradient of female zebu introgression and a geographical hybrid zone of Bos taurus and Bos indicus in China.