Genetic analysis on origin and phylogenetic status of gayal (Bos frontalis).

The mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene sequences of 13 samples of gayal(Bos frontalis) in China were sequenced by the method of direct sequencing and molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed based on cited sequences to analyzing its origin and phylogenetic status.The result showed that the full lengh of cytochrome b gene was 1140 bp and 95 variable sites were found from all samples.These sequences could be defined as 5 haplotypes.There was obvious differentiation of gayal population in China from maternal origin and it maybe possess a special origin.It was deduced that there was very close relationship between B.frontalis and Bos gaurus,which showed that they might share the same maternal origin in an anterior time and maybe the progeny of a kind of extinct wild bovine species.