A Reassessment of the Genomic Ancestry of the World's Largest Captive Baboon Colony

TL;DR

This study finds that a large baboon colony in Texas has unexpected genetic contributions from other baboon species, which could affect biomedical research.

Contribution

The study reveals previously unreported genetic contributions from additional Papio species in a major biomedical research baboon colony.

Findings

Primary genetic contributions come from P. anubis and P. cynocephalus.

Almost 5% of the colony shows genetic contributions from other Papio species, notably P. hamadryas.

The findings highlight the importance of considering genetic diversity in future biomedical studies using this colony.

Abstract

The Southwest National Primate Research Center of San Antonio, Texas, hosts one of the largest captive colonies of baboons used for biomedical research. Pedigreed animals can be traced back to the second part of the last century from individuals of two Papio species: P. anubis and P. cynocephalus. We leveraged recently published genomic data from more than 800 baboons to investigate the ancestry profile of the colony members. By combining phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA and nuclear genomic ancestry estimations, we confirmed P. anubis and P. cynocephalus as the main sources of the colony genetic variation. Previously unreported contributions from additional Papio species were also detected in almost 5% of the colony samples, of which P. hamadryas was the most notable, while others occurred sporadically across the data set. This extensive ancestry characterisation will be of help in biomedical investigations making use of baboons from the Southwest National Primate Research Center.

Mitochondrial analysis revealed unexpected lineages inside the P. anubis/P. cynocephalus SNPRC colony in San Antonio, Texas. Whole‐genome ancestry reconstruction further explored these results, identifying several individuals with substantial (> 0.10) ancestry fraction coming from unexpected Papio species (here reported average ancestry estimate).

Genomic and mitochondrial analysis of almost 900 baboons confirms primary ancestry of samples from P. anubis and P. cynocephalus in the Southwest National Primate Research Center in Texas, a major biomedical research colonyUnexpectedly, genetic contributions from other Papio species, mostly P. hamadryas, were detected in almost 5% of the analysed individuals.These findings enhance understanding of the genetic diversity of this widely used colony, which have to be taken into consideration when designing future studies.

Genomic and mitochondrial analysis of almost 900 baboons confirms primary ancestry of samples from P. anubis and P. cynocephalus in the Southwest National Primate Research Center in Texas, a major biomedical research colony

Unexpectedly, genetic contributions from other Papio species, mostly P. hamadryas, were detected in almost 5% of the analysed individuals.

These findings enhance understanding of the genetic diversity of this widely used colony, which have to be taken into consideration when designing future studies.

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