Bioscience Evidence 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 291-302 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 296 and newer population genetics methods, it has become much easier to find and measure these hybrid events. These tools let researchers look at gene flow in a clearer way and pick out hybrid animals in both wild and domestic groups. 5.4 Identification of conserved and differentiated genomic regions Conserved genomic regions are usually associated with important biological functions such as reproduction, immune response and environmental adaptation, and these regions are maintained in both wild and domestic buffaloes. A large homogeneous island (ROH island) on chromosome 2 has been found in both river and marsh buffaloes. This region contains genes related to environmental adaptation and reproduction, suggesting that it is subject to strong purification selection and evolutionary conservation (Macciotta et al., 2021). In comparison, the genome regions that show clear differentiation are usually linked with traits that people focus on during domestication and breeding. These traits include milk production, working ability, and disease resistance (Zhang et al., 2022; Li et al., 2025; Pauciullo et al., 2025). Selection sweeps in these regions, together with copy number variations (CNVs), make some helpful alleles stay and spread in domestic groups. Genes related to milk yield and coat color are strongly selected in dairy breeds. In working breeds, genes involved in muscle growth and stress resistance are more common and show stronger signals (Luo et al., 2020; Si et al., 2024). Figure 1 The selection signal, protein structure, and causal mutation of the MC1Rgene (Adopted from Si et al., 2024)
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