2010/02/01 by Camilla Speller, Brian M. Kemp, Scott D. Wyatt +4 · 4 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Livestock and Poultry Management #Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock #Genetic diversity and population structure
paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.0909724107
openalex publication_date 2010/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Although the cultural and nutritive importance of the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) to precontact Native Americans and contemporary people worldwide is clear, little is known about the domestication of this bird compared to other domesticates. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of 149 turkey bones and 29 coprolites from 38 archaeological sites (200 BC-AD 1800) reveals a unique domesticated breed in the precontact Southwestern United States. Phylogeographic analyses indicate that this domestic breed originated from outside the region, but rules out the South Mexican domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) as a progenitor. A strong genetic bottleneck within the Southwest turkeys also reflects intensive human selection and breeding. This study points to at least two occurrences of turkey domestication in precontact North America and illuminates the intensity and sophistication of New World animal breeding practices.