Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Historical Gene Flow Patterns of Nine Indigenous Greek Sheep Breeds

Abstract

The rapid development of biological sciences in the 21st century opened up new horizons and perspectives in livestock breeding, which is now governed by new rules based on information related to their genetic background. Greece, a country that is traditionally linked to sheep farming from ancient times, could not follow modern practices applied in many European countries, such as genetic improvement and the application of biotechnological breeding techniques, and hence, fell behind in the creation of sheep breeds that could serve as nuclei for breeding strategies with the goal of improved performance and increased resilience to harsh environments. In this study, we analyzed the genetic background of the most numerous or important Greek sheep breeds to evaluate the local genetic resources and aid in actions either for breed preservation or genetic improvement. In addition, through gene flow analysis, we provide insights into the migration waves and domestication of sheep in the Mediterranean basin. Our findings form a basis on which genetic improvement and selection schemes can operate to produce a breeding stock with the desired origin and traits.