Background: Saryarka sheep belong to fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep breed. This breed is distinguished by increased meat productivity while being competitive in young lamb production. Live weight and body indices are relevant data for assessing sheep body constitution, which directly affects the breeding characteristics and meat productivity of animals. Objectives: This study aimed to find associations with SNPs and nine phenotypic characteristics of the Saryarka fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep breed including live weight and eight body indices (wither height, rump height, bicoastal diameter, body depth, body length, rump width, heart girth, and cannon bone circumference), and find candidate genes related to these characteristics. Methods: A total of 100 animals from the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan were used in this study. Live weight and eight body indices of sheep were measured using tape and electronic scales. The blood samples of the animals were used for DNA extraction. DNA samples were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip and analyzed using GWAS. Statistically significant SNPs were identified for each characteristic trait referencing the genome of Ovis aries (Oar_v3.1) using BioMart. Results: The GWAS results demonstrated a substantial chromosomal-level correlation between 32 chromosome-wide significant and suggestively significant SNPs in the studied sheep breed. Overall, seven SNPs located in seven different genes were revealed as candidates for live weight and four body indices: s20793.1 SNP in the IGFBP6 gene for live weight, OAR4_54217431.1 SNP in the ST7 gene for bicoastal diameter, s25229.1 in the SCD5 gene, and s01175.1 SNP in the DTNBP1 gene for rump width, OAR2_175574781.1 SNP in the KYNU gene for heart girth, and OAR1_209022621.1 SNP in the FGF12 gene and s15415.1 SNP in the FTO gene for cannon bone circumference. Some of these genes were previously reported to be involved in body constitution and fat deposit in other sheep breeds. Conclusions: The results of the present study open up new opportunities for targeted sheep breeding for meat and fat productivity.

Background: In Kazakhstan, there is a notable demand for fat-tail sheep breeds in both domestic and international markets, which has led to the prioritization of certain breeds for breeding purposes. Among the various sheep breeds raised in the desert and semi-desert regions of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep is particularly valued for its production of high-quality mutton. Objective: This study aimed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with body conformation traits in this breed using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Methods: A GWAS was performed on 295 Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool using OvineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: After quality control, 41,912 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) remained for analysis. Several loci showed suggestive associations (p < 1 × 10⁻⁵) with growth traits. These included s23127.1 and OAR6_56152225.1 for live weight; s08490.1 for chest width; s22731.1 for oblique length; OAR10_1168444.1 for cannon bone circumference; and s58409.1 for both rump height and withers height. Candidate genes near these loci encompassed VCAN, NEK1, NRG1, ADAM12, ERBB4, RUNX1T1, and PDGFD. Conclusion: Thus, these genetic variations have the potential to serve as candidate markers for MAS targeting body conformation traits in Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep.

Camels have been essential to human survival and development across the arid Central Asian steppes, particularly in Kazakhstan, where the breeding of one-humped and two-humped camels is a longstanding tradition supporting the nomadic lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of these camels across their distribution range in Kazakhstan. Blood samples from 100 individuals were collected from five locations, Almaty (ALA), Atyrau (ATR), Shymkent (SHK), Kyzylorda (KZL), and Taraz (TRZ), and genotyped using 17 microsatellite markers. All loci were polymorphic, with a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.707 in C. dromedarius and 0.643 in C. bactrianus. The highest expected heterozygosity (He = 0.939) was observed at VOLP67 in C. bactrianus and at VOLP03 in C. dromedarius. Genetic differentiation was low (FST = 0.021), indicating a weak population structure between the two species with substantial gene flow (Nm = 19.972). The hybrid analysis identified 31% hybrids, including F1, F2, and backcrosses, with the highest frequencies in KZL and TRZ, moderate frequencies in ATR, and lowest frequencies in SHK and ALA. These patterns, consistent with STRUCTURE clustering, reflect widespread but regionally variable hybridization. The phylogenetic analysis revealed three clades, separating Bactrian camels (ALA), dromedaries (SHK), and a hybrid group (ATR, KZL, and TRZ). These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic diversity of Kazakhstan’s camels and support effective conservation, breeding strategies, and genotyping applications in camel husbandry.

The article presents the results of interpopulation analysis, phylogeny and ploidy study of Allium sabulosum Steven ex Bunge within the deserts of Kazakhstan. The studied taxon is the type species of the section Eremoprasum (Kamelin) F. O. Khassanov, R. M. Fritsch et N. Friesen and belongs to the subgenus Allium L, the main range of which covers the Iranian-Turanian and Central Asian desert regions. The studied samples from 10 populations were collected in 5 floristic regions of Kazakhstan, covering the following regions of the Republic: Mangistau, Kyzylorda, Karaganda, Ulytau, Zhambyl and Almaty. To determine ploidy, the collected samples were studied by flow cytometry. The results of nrITS and chloroplast fragment sequencing were used to construct a phylogenetic tree, which also includes data from the NCBI database. Of the 10 populations studied, samples from population 3 from the Balkhash-Alakol floristic region were particularly different. In this population, a hybrid (the second parent, which is unknown and was not included in the analysis) and samples of different ploidy (polyploid) were found. Tetraploid samples were found in the territory of the Betpak-Dala floristic region.

Genetic diversity is a key indicator of a species’ evolutionary development, adaptability to environmental changes, and long-term survival. Globally, the sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources, including in situ protection and population-level genetic studies, is a major scientific priority. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae) has been traditionally used for centuries, but only recently recognized for its significant economic value. Its berries are rich in biologically active compounds, making the species increasingly important in medicine, agriculture, food, and cosmetics across Europe and Asia. This study evaluates the genetic diversity of Hippophae rhamnoides in technogenic zones of Northern Kazakhstan using ISSR markers. Seed samples were collected from two plant populations in the Prigorodny Forest District, Kostanay region, for molecular analysis. ISSR analysis showed high within-population polymorphism (87%) and lower between-population polymorphism (13%) in Hippophae rhamnoides. UPGMA clustering revealed genetic differentiation between and within populations, indicating distinct genetic origins and potential cross-pollination. The high within-population polymorphism and clustering pattern indicate genetic differentiation of Hippophae rhamnoides forms according to their origin. This study is preliminary, and further research should include populations from other technogenically affected regions and comparative analysis with populations from protected areas.

Заманауи технологиялардың дамуына байланысты әртүрлі генетикалық маркерлер ауыл шарушылығы малдарын генотиптеуде қолданыс тауып келеді. Генетикалық маркерлердің ішінде кең қолданыс тапқан SNP BeadChip жиынтықтары ерекше маңызға ие. Көшім жылқы тұқымның геномындағы гомозиготалы аймақтарды талдау үшін 107 бас жылқыға Infinium HTS Equine SNP80 BeadChip арқылы генотиптеу жүргізілді. SNP генотиптеу негізінде зерттеуге алынған жылқылардың геномында гомозиготалы фрагменттердің таралуы және олардың әрбір аутосома бойынша кездесу жиілігі анықталды. Көшім жылқы популяциясы бойынша жалпы 9653 гомозиготалық фрагменттер табылды. Гомозиготалы аймақтардың фрагменттер саны 1, 2, 3, 4, 14 және 7-ші хромосомаларда салыстыр-малы түрде жоғары екені анықталды, ал керісінше 31, 12, 30 және 29-шы хромосомаларда төмен деңгейі байқалды. Адай жылқы популяциясы бойынша жалпы 19578 гомозиготалық фрагменттер табылды. Гомозиготалы аймақтардың фрагменттер саны 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 және 11-ші хромосомаларда салыстырмалы түрде жоғары екені анықталды, ал керісінше 31, 30, 29 және 27-ші хромосомаларда төмен деңгейі байқалды. Зерттеуге алынған жылқы тұқымдарында инбридинг коэффициенті бір-неше ұрапқтар бойы есептелді. Екі жылқы тұқымы бойыншада ең жоғарғы инбридинг коэффи-циенті 50 ұрпақ бұрын анықталса, ал ең төменгі инбридинг дәрежесі 12 ұрпақ бұрын анықталды.