牦牛的分类学地位及起源研究:mtDNA D-loop序列的分析

牦牛的起源与属级分类学地位至今仍然存在一定的争议。我们测定了家养牦牛和野生牦牛线粒体控制区(D-loop)序列,并以此构建牦牛和牛属、野牛属、水牛属以及非洲水牛属相关种的系统发育树。研究结果表明线粒体D-loop区与Cytb基因序列在构建牛族的系统发育具有同样重要的价值。系统发育关系显示野牛属的灭绝种草原野牛与现存种美洲野牛先聚合为一单系群,然后再和牦牛形成一单系分支,表明牦牛与野牛属的草原野牛、美洲野牛亲缘关系最近,具有最近的共同祖先,而与牛属的其它亚洲物种亲缘关系较远。因此,本研究不支持将牦牛独立为牦牛属———Poephagus,牛属与野牛属在分类上也应合并为一个属。基于上述研究结果和化石证据,我们进一步对牦牛起源的历史背景进行了讨论,认为牦牛与野牛属的分化是由于第四纪气候变化在欧亚大陆发生的,野牛通过白令陆桥进入北美;冰期结束后,由于欧亚大陆其它地区温度升高,牦牛只能局限分布在较为寒冷的青藏高原;而野牛属在北美先后分化为草原野牛和美洲野牛,前者可能是后者的直接祖先。     

牦牛Myf-5基因的克隆测序及其系统进化研究

本研究对牦牛(九龙牦牛)的生肌决定因子5(Myf-5)基因进行了T-A克隆测序和分析,并与多个物种的相应基因编码区核苷酸序列、氨基酸序列进行了比对分析,构建了物种间的系统进化树.结果 表明:①牦牛的Myf-5基因大小为3313 bp,由3个外显子和2个内含子组成,与普通牛等9个物种比较,在基因大小上有较大的差异,但外显子和内含子的组成一致.②牦牛、大额牛、瘤牛、水牛、普通牛、人、恒河猴、黑猩猩、狗、家鼠、软体贝壳、鸡、斑马鱼等物种间Myf-5基因编码区的核苷酸序列同源性较高,其中,牦牛、大额牛、瘤牛、水牛、普通牛间的同源性最高,达98.4%以上,说明Myf-5基因编码区核苷酸序列在动物物种间具有较高的保守性.③牦牛、大额牛、瘤牛、水牛、普通牛、黑猩猩、恒河猴、人、狗、家鼠、软体贝壳、鸡、斑马鱼等物种间Myf-5基因编码蛋白的氨基酸序列具有较高的同源性,保守性强,这一结果与编码区核苷酸序列的比对结果基本一致.④根据核苷酸序列,用NJ法构建的牦牛、大额牛、瘤牛、水牛、普通牛、人、恒河猴、黑猩猩、狗、家鼠、软体贝壳、鸡、斑马鱼等13个物种的分子系统进化树显示:牦牛、普通牛、瘤牛、水牛和大额牛在较近的亲缘关系下聚为一大类,人、黑猩猩和恒河猴聚为另一大类,然后这两类再和其他物种相聚.这一分类结果与各物种的动物学分类结果和血液蛋白、mtDNA水平上的聚类结果基本一致,支持牦牛、普通牛和瘤牛3个物种间不应该是属间或亚属间关系,而应是同一属下的不同种,将牦牛、普通牛和瘤牛划分在同一个属--牛属(Bos),而将水牛划分在另一个单独的属的观点.同时也显示该基因序列适合用于动物学分类.     

牦牛MEF2C基因克隆、生物信息学及表达谱分析

本试验旨在分析牦牛(Bos grunniens)肌细胞增强因子2C(myocyte enhancer factor 2C,MEF2C)基因的分子特征和表达规律,探索其影响牦牛肌肉发育的作用机制.试验以大通牦牛肌肉组织cDNA为模板,采用PCR扩增技术扩增牦牛MEF2C基因,用DNAStar,ExPASy,ABCpred等生物信息学软件分析MEF2C基因序列和其编码的蛋白质结构,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术(RT-qPCR)检测了 MEF2C基因的表达情况.试验克隆获得的牦牛MEF2C基因编码区全长1 302 bp,编码433个氨基酸;蛋白质结构预测结果显示,MEF2C蛋白具有30h的半衰期,为亲水性碱性蛋白,没有信号肽但拥有跨膜结构.系统关系中牦牛与普通牛的亲缘关系最为接近,与小鼠亲缘关系较远.组织表达谱结果显示,MEF2C基因在牦牛7个组织中都有表达且在臀二头肌组织中表达量最高;不同时期MEF2C基因表达情况为胎牛＞成年牛＞6月龄牛.研究结果将为进一步探讨MEF2C基因在牦牛肌肉发育中的作用提供科学依据,同时也为解析牦牛肌肉发育的分子机制提供数据支撑.     

麦洼牦牛乳酸脱氢酶-B基因多态性的PCR-RFLP分析

为了从分子水平上检测麦洼牦牛Bos grunniens乳酸脱氢酶-1(LDH1)的H亚基编码基因Ldhb的多态性,实验提取79头麦洼牦牛基因组DNA,采用PCR-RFLP技术分析Ldhb基因多态性,并测定牦牛背最长肌中肌红蛋白含量。实验建立的牦牛Ldhb的G896A突变位点的PCR-RFLP检测方法,在79头麦洼牦牛中检测到Ldhb-AA和Ldhb-AG两种基因型,其中AG基因型频率为16.46%,并且这些样品的乳酸脱氢酶-1的电泳迁移率快于Ldhb-AA样品。本实验未检测到Ldhb-GG基因型;麦洼牦牛Ldhb基因多态性与背最长肌中的肌红蛋白含量之间未见相关性。     

中国5个地方牦牛品种遗传多样性的微卫星分析

本文以大额牛（Bos frontalis）为外群,应用16对微卫星DNA标记结合荧光-多重PCR技术,评估了5个中国地方牦牛（Bos grunniens）（帕里牦牛、斯布牦牛、西藏高山牦牛、麦洼牦牛和九龙牦牛）品种内遗传变异和品种间遗传关系。6个群体的16个微卫星座位上共检测到159个等位基因,其中有33个等位基因为5个牦牛品种所特有。6个群体的有效等位基因数（Ne）在2.2043-3.2754之间,平均杂合度（H）在0.4858-0.6153之间,平均多态信息含量（PIC）在0.4230-0.5711之间。5个牦牛品种的微卫星座位有丰富的遗传多样性;而大额牛的遗传多样性相对较贫乏。5个牦牛群体间的遗传分化系数（Gst）为0.0527,表明牦牛亚群体间遗传分化水平很低。采用邻近结合法构建聚类图和模糊聚类分析表明,5个牦牛品种分为两大类,其中斯布牦牛、西藏高山牦牛、帕里牦牛和麦洼牦牛为一大类,九龙牦牛为一类。研究结果将为中国地方牦牛品种的保护和利用提供重要的理论依据。     

青海高原牦牛mtDNA Cytb基因和D-loop区遗传多样性及系统进化分析

为探究青海高原牦牛的遗传多样性和起源进化关系,本研究通过测定和分析青海高原牦牛155个个体细胞色素b基因(Cytb)和D-loop区全序列,分析多态性及构建系统进化树.结果表明:青海高原牦牛Cytb基因全序列长度为1 140 bp,个体间序列长度无差异,4种核苷酸T、A、G、C的含量分别为26.26％、31.73％、13.09％、28.920％;发现13个SNP位点,全部为转换,符合Cytb基因保守的特征;核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.002 88,单倍型数(H)为9,单倍型多样性(Hd)为0.645;D-loop区序列长度在892～895 bp之间,不同个体间存在序列长度差异;4种核苷酸T、A、G、C的平均比例分别为28.69％、32.22％、13.75％、25.34％,A+T含量为60.91％,G+C含量为39.09％.在155个个体中共统计出41个SNP位点,其中转换38个,颠换3个,缺失5个,插入3个.其核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.012 44,分析得到的单倍型数(H)为38,单倍型多样性(Hd)为0.881.在基于Cytb基因的系统进化树中,青海高原牦牛首先与野牦牛和巴州牦牛聚在一起,紧接着与美洲野牛聚在一起;在D-loop区的系统进化分析中,青海高原牦牛首先与西藏牦牛和野牦牛聚在一起,展示出丰富的遗传多样性,同时进一步支持了牦牛和野牦牛划为牛亚科牦牛属(Bovidae)的观点.本研究结果为牦牛改良及育种工作提供了科学依据.     

河北泥河湾及隆化新发现原始牛化石（英文）

原始牛(Bos primigenius)化石新材料包括泥河湾盆地禾尧庄的1件角心、上沙嘴的1件肱骨和承德隆化的1件肱骨、1件胫骨、1件踝骨、2件跟骨和3件距骨;其中上沙嘴的肱骨化石长达457.3 mm,代表迄今在我国境内发现的最大原始牛个体,也是该种的最大记录之一,推算其所属动物的肩高接近2 m;北京门头沟珠窝的原始牛头骨的眶后宽度及角心周长数据也是该种的最大记录之一;禾尧庄的角心标本稍小,但也比晚更新世多数同类要大;这些巨大的化石与欧洲中更新世晚期同类十分接近,其时代也应当与之相当,为中更新世晚期;过去认为原始牛在我国只出现于晚更新世地层,但现在看来该种在中更新世晚期就已扩散到中国。东欧及北亚的最新化石证据表明,过去认为与原始牛共生的晚更新世化石组合的常见属种早在中更新世晚期或更早时期就已出现,其中包括灰狼、虎、真猛犸象、马、真披毛犀、野猪、诺氏驼、赤鹿、驼鹿及草原野牛等。最新测年数据也表明中国北方有几个含原始牛化石的遗址是形成于中更新世晚期;本文认为华北和西北地区个体巨大的原始牛,代表中更新世晚期,而个体较小的则可能代表晚更新世或全新世;近些年在东北地区发现大量原始牛化石,但其中少见个体巨大者。在我国,原始牛化石分布只局限于北方及淮河过渡区,而在南方及毗邻的东南亚地区均未发现此类化石;因此,有人提出原始牛很可能是在中更新世中、晚期通过中亚走廊(Central Asian Corridor)进入中国。不过,近些年在非洲也发现了一些牛属(Bos)化石,因此有人又提出了牛属非洲起源的"奥杜威牛–牛属演化谱系"(Pelorovis–Bos lineage),但该学说所依据的奥杜威牛化石材料,在形态结构上与牛属相去甚远,难以归入同类;此外,非洲可靠的牛属化石记录均未超过1 Ma。本文作者支持传统的牛属"南亚起源学说",因为在南亚西瓦里克地区发现的早期牛属化石不仅时代更古老(早于2 Ma),并且在形态上与原始牛更为相似。中国北方的原始牛化石主要发现于华北平原、黄土高原和松嫩平原的河湖相堆积层,仅极个别出现于黄土地层;由此推断原始牛可能更喜欢水系发育的林缘和/或沼泽环境。     

以Cytb基因部分序列分析大额牛系统地位及其种群现状

对12头大额牛Cytb基因部分序列447bp进行分析,共发现33个变异位点,定义了4种单倍型;结合GenBank中牛属普通牛、瘤牛、牦牛和印度褐牛4个近缘种的Cytb基因同源区序列进行分析,以水牛作为外群,分别采用邻接(NJ)法和最大简约(MP)法构建分子系统发育树,得到基本一致的拓扑结构,结果表明大额牛是独立于普通牛、瘤牛和印度褐牛之外的Bos属的一个独立的种。同时还指出目前我国有相当比例的大额牛受到外来物种的入侵,我国的大额牛保护工作正面临非常严峻的考验。     

从细胞色素b基因全序列探讨大额牛的分子系统发生

大额牛是一种半野生半家养的珍稀牛种, 有关其起源和系统地位一直存在争议。通过PCR扩增、测序等步骤共获得了11头大额牛细胞色素b(Cyt b)基因全序列(1 140 bp)。应用分析软件, 对大额牛11条Cyt b序列进行了分析, 并结合GenBank中牛属动物6个近缘种的同源序列, 以亚洲水牛(Bubalus bubalis)为外群, 分别采用邻接法(NJ)和最大简约法(MP)构建了牛属动物分子系统发育树。序列分析结果表明, 11条大额牛Cyt b序列1 140位点中, 共发现95个变异位点(占分析位点总数的8.33 %), 定义了6种单倍型, 表明大额牛群体的Cyt b基因遗传多态性比较丰富。构建的NJ和MP分子系统树均显示, 大额牛研究群体明显分为3支, 第1支与普通牛(Bos taurus)相聚, 第2支与瘤牛(Bos indicus)相聚, 第3支与印度野牛(Bos gaurus)相聚。系统发育分析表明, 大额牛很可能是印度野牛的家养型或驯化种, 我国大额牛群体可能曾受到其他牛种血缘的入侵。     

牦牛生态类型的分类

为进一步弄清中国牦牛的遗传资源及其类型划分,利用微卫星DNA、随机扩增多态性（RAPD）、扩增片断长度多态性（AFLP）等3种分子遗传标记技术研究了麦洼牦牛、九龙牦牛、大通牦牛和天祝白牦牛的分类;并结合作者对牦牛染色体和血液蛋白多态性的研究结果探讨了中国牦牛类群的分类.结果：①根据微卫星位点的等位基因频率进行聚类分析,表明麦洼牦牛和九龙牦牛的遗传距离最大（1.506）,麦洼牦牛2个群体之间的遗传距离最小（1.062）.5个牦牛群体被聚为两大类,四川九龙牦牛单独成一大类,其他牦牛群体聚为一类.②根据RAPD和AFLP两种分子遗传标记的分析,表明天祝牦牛和大通牦牛的遗传距离最小（0.0336）,九龙牦牛和天祝牦牛的遗传距离最大（0.0414）,4个牦牛品种被聚为两大类,九龙牦牛品种聚为一类,其它3个牦牛品种聚为一类.大通牦牛和天祝白牦牛在较近的水平上首先聚为一类,然后在较远处与麦洼牦牛聚为一大类.③根据染色体特征和血液蛋白位点的基因频率进行聚类的结果与微卫星DNA、RAPD、AFLP的聚类结果相似.中国牦牛可分为以九龙牦牛和麦洼牦牛为代表的两个类群（型）.这与蔡立等将中国牦牛分为“青藏高原型”和“横断高山型”的结果是一致的.而与其他学者的分类结果有较大的差异.结合中国牦牛品种（群体）的地理分布、生态条件、育成史及其分化的实际情况,作者认为中国牦牛分为两个大的生态类型是合理的.     

野牦牛线粒体基因组序列测定及其系统进化

野牦牛属高寒地区的特有物种,是我国最珍贵的野生动物遗传资源之一,已被列为国家一级重点保护动物。对野牦牛mtDNA进行全序列测定和结构分析,并基于线粒体基因组序列对其系统发生进行了探讨。结果表明:(1)野牦牛线粒体基因组全序列的大小为16 322 bp,整个基因组由37个编码基因和D-loop区组成;22个tRNA基因序列长度为1 524 bp、2个RNA基因序列长度为2 528 bp、13个编码蛋白基因序列长度为11420 bp、D-loop区长度为892 bp。基因组中无间隔序列,基因间排列紧密,基因内无内含子。(2)野牦牛具有较丰富的遗传多样性。(3)分子系统发生关系显示牦牛为牛亚科中的一个独立属,即牦牛属(Poephagus),牦牛属包括家牦牛(Poephagus grunniens)和野牦牛(Poephagus mutus)2个种。野牦牛线粒体基因组全序列的获得和结构解析对研究牦牛的起源、演化和分类,以及野牦牛遗传资源的保护、开发和利用均具有重要的理论和实际意义。     

Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity and origin of Chinese domestic yak

In order to clarify the origin and genetic diversity of yak in China, we analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (approximately 891 bp) in 52 individuals from four domestic yak (Poephagus grunniens) breeds, as well as from a hybrid between yak and cattle (Pianniu). Twenty-five samples were further selected for partial (420 bp) cytochrome b sequencing based on control region sequence information. Two yak samples shared sequences with Chinese cattle (Bos taurus); the remaining yak mtDNAs converged into two major clades in the phylogenetic analysis. Genetic diversity varied substantially among the breeds, with the hybrid Pianniu yak demonstrating the highest diversity. Our results suggest that the Chinese yak was domesticated from two distinct matrilineal sources or from a heterogeneous pool containing both divergent lineages, with occasional gene introgression from cattle.     

青海省可可西里地区几种有蹄类动物的食物重叠初步分析

2005年7月和2006年1月,应用粪便显微组织分析法测定了可可西里地区的藏野驴、藏羚、藏原羚、野牦牛,以及家牦牛和藏羊在冷季(1月)和暖季(7月)的食物构成.用Schoener's Index计算了这些同域分布动物种间的食物重叠度.结果表明,藏野驴分别与藏羚羊、野牦牛、藏原羚在暖季的食物重叠度各为63.0%、48.4%和24.1%,在冷季的重叠度为别为71.6%、42.0%和11.4%;藏羚羊与野牦牛、藏原羚在暖季的食物重叠度分别为52.0%和33.4%,其在冷季的食物重叠度各为50.3%和29.3%;野牦牛与藏原羚在冷暖季的食物重叠度分别为13.1%和15.9%.在可可西里地区吲域分布野牛有蹄类动物种间,藏原羚与其他有蹄类动物食物重叠较少,而藏羚羊、藏野驴、野牦牛之间则存在不同程度的食物重叠,且随季节不同而变化,反映了这些动物之间复杂的竞争和共存关系.此外,家牦牛和藏羊均与这些野生有蹄类动物存在高度的食物重叠.     

DNA fingerprinting of individual species and intergeneric and interspecific hybrids of genera Bos and Bison,subfamily Bovinae

Genome fingerprinting with a hypervariable minisatellite sequence of phage M13 DNA was used to study the genetic variation in individual species of the genera Bos and Bison (subfamily Bovinae) and in their interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. DNA fingerprints were obtained for domestic cow Bos taurus primigenius, vatussy Bos taurus macroceros, banteng Bos javanicus, gaur Bos gaurus, wisent Bison bonasus, bison Bison bison, and for the interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. Compared with the original species, most hybrids showed a greater variation in number and size of hybridization fragments. An association was revealed between the number of hybridization fragments and blood composition of interspecific hybrids resulting from unique crossing of domestic cow and banteng. Pairwise similarity coefficients were calculated to construct a dendrogram of genetic similarity, which reflected the relationships between the parental species and hybrids varying in blood composition. The applicability of the method for identifying interspecific and intergeneric hybrids and for studying the consequences of distant hybridization in the subfamily Bovinae is discussed.     

Assessment of cattle genetic introgression into domestic yak populations using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers

Hybridization between yak Poephagus grunniens and taurine Bos taurus or indicine B. indicus cattle has been widely practiced throughout the yak geographical range, and gene flow is expected to have occurred between these species. To assess the impact of cattle admixture on domestic yak, we examined 1076 domestic yak from 29 populations collected in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Russia using mitochondrial DNA and 17 autosomal microsatellite loci. A cattle diagnostic marker‐based analysis reveals cattle‐specific mtDNA and/or autosomal microsatellite allele introgression in 127 yak individuals from 22 populations. The mean level of cattle admixture across the populations, calculated using allelic information at 17 autosomal microsatellite loci, remains relatively low (mY_cattle = 2.66 ± 0.53% and Q_cattle = 0.69 ± 2.58%), although it varies a lot across populations as well as among individuals within population. Although the level of cattle admixture shows a clear geographical structure, with higher levels of admixture in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau and Mongolian and Russian regions, and lower levels in the Himalayan and Pamir Plateau region, our results indicate that the level of cattle admixture is not significantly correlated with the altitude across geographical regions as well as within geographical region. Although yak‐cattle hybridization is primarily driven to produce F₁ hybrids, our results show that the subsequent gene flow between yak and cattle took place and has affected contemporary genetic make‐up of domestic yak. To protect yak genetic integrity, hybridization between yak and cattle should be tightly controlled.     

A polymorphic satellite sequence maps to the pericentric region of the bovine Y chromosome

Exploiting a serendipitously observed bovine male-specific signal, generated by the mouse pSP64.2.5EI minisatellite probe, we have cloned a bovine (Bos taurus) Y-specific sequence: btDYZ-1. This sequence is composed of 60 tandem repetitions of a motif consisting of two parts: a 40-bp-long unit, showing a mean divergence of 27% between repeats, separated from the next repeat by a TG-rich stretch varying in length between 12 and 63 bp. The number of copies of this repeated motif has been estimated at 6 X 10(4) per male genome. As a consequence, the corresponding satellite, DYZ-1, might represent approximately 1/20 of the bovine Y chromosome. btDYZ-1 has been mapped by in situ hybridization to the pericentric region of the Y chromosome. It is characterized by a substantial genetic polymorphism and has been shown to be conserved within the Bos and Bison genera of the Bovinae subfamily. This sequence is being used to develop a sexing procedure for bovine preimplantation embryos based on the polymerase chain reaction.     

牛科动物HSL基因序列分析及其分子进化研究

在对牛科中4种动物即牦牛、瘤牛、普通牛和水牛HSL基因外显子Ⅰ部分核苷酸序列进行测定的基础上,与Gen-Bank中其他物种相应基因核苷酸序列、氨基酸序列进行了比对分析,并构建了牦牛与其他物种间分子系统进化树。结果表明:牦牛与普通牛、瘤牛、水牛、猪、人、小鼠、大鼠7个物种HSL基因外显子Ⅰ部分核苷酸序列间保守性较高,同源性大小依次为99.8%、99.6%、97.4%、90.6%、88.4%、83.5%、82.3%。相应氨基酸序列间保守性更高,同源性分别为100%、100%、98.2%、94.0%、92.2%、89.8%、89.8%。牦牛与各物种该基因部分核苷酸序列间碱基变异类型主要表现为碱基转换和颠换,无碱基插入和缺失发生,碱基转换的频率高于颠换的频率;在核苷酸水平上的多数碱基替换都是同义替换;序列间单碱基变异位点大多出现在同一位点,多发生在密码子第3位,其次是第1位,最少发生在第2位,符合分子进化的中性学说。HSL基因外显子Ⅰ部分核苷酸序列进行多序列对位排列构建的各物种间分子系统进化树结果表明,普通牛和瘤牛首先聚为一类,再分别与牦牛、水牛、猪、人聚类,最后与大鼠、小鼠聚为一类。该聚类结果与动物学上的分类结果一致,表明HSL基因外显子Ⅰ部分核苷酸序列适合于构建物种间分子系统进化树。研究表明,牦牛、普通牛和瘤牛3个物种间的遗传距离大小相近,牦牛和水牛间的遗传距离与普通牛、瘤牛和水牛间的遗传距离大小相当。牦牛、普通牛和瘤牛3个物种间的遗传距离远小于它们各自与水牛这一物种的遗传距离,它们三者之间的亲缘关系也相对于它们各自与水牛间的亲缘关系都较近,故将牦牛、普通牛和瘤牛划分在同一个属——牛属(Bos)更为合理。     

DNA Fingerprinting of Individual Species and Intergeneric and Interspecific Hybrids of the Genera Bos and Bison, Subfamily Bovinae

Genome fingerprinting with a hypervariable minisatellite sequence of phage M13 DNA was used to study the genetic variation in individual species of the genera Bosand Bison(subfamily Bovinae) and in their interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. DNA fingerprints were obtained for domestic cow Bos taurus primigenius, vatussy Bos taurus macroceros, banteng Bos javanicus, gaur Bos gaurus, wisent Bison bonasus, bison Bison bison, and for the interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. Compared with the original species, most hybrids showed a greater variation in number and size of hybridization fragments. An association was revealed between the number of hybridization fragments and degree of consanguinity of interspecific hybrids resulting from unique crossing of domestic cow and banteng. Pairwise similarity coefficients were calculated to construct a dendrogram of genetic similarity, which reflected the relationships between the parental species and hybrids varying in degree of consanguinity. The applicability of the method for identifying interspecific and intergeneric hybrids and for studying the consequences of hybridization in the subfamily Bovinae is discussed.     

Evolutionary affinities of the enigmatic saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) in the context of the molecular phylogeny of Bovidae.

To elucidate the systematic status of the enigmatic saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), a new bovid genus recently discovered in Vietnam, and to investigate phylogenetic relationships within the family Bovidae, four distinct DNA markers were sequenced. Complete mitochondrial cytochrome b (1143 bp) and 12S rRNA (956 bp) genes and non-coding regions from the nuclear genes for aromatase cytochrome P-450 (199 bp) and lactoferrin (338 bp) have been compared for 25 bovid species and three Cervidae and Antilocapridae outgroups. Independent and/or combined analyses of the four nucleotide matrices through maximum parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods indicated that Bovidae consists of two major lineages, i.e. Bovinac which contains the tribes Bovini, Boselaphini and Tragelaphini, and Antilopinae which encompasses all other bovids. Within Bovinae, the tribe Bovini is divided into buffalo Bovini (Bubalus and Syncerus) and cattle Bovini (Bos and Bison) and Tragelaphini are possibly related to Boselaphini. Pseudoryx is shown to be (i) robustly nested within Bovinae; (ii) strongly associated with Bovini; and (iii) tentatively sharing a sister-group relationship with cattle Bovini. Within Antilopinae, three robust clades are in evidence: (i) Hippotragus and Damaliscus are linked to Ovis; (ii) Aepyceros joins Neotragus; and (iii) Cephalophus clusters with Oreotragus.