Variability of the Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genome of Saiga tatrica tatrica

This study employs a combined k-mer based comparative genomics and mitochondrial genome analysis to investigate genetic variation in S.t. tatarica. Whole genome sequencing data were used to assess genomic diversity, revealing significant variation between samples, with 25.55-28.49% of k-mers being sample-specific. Mitochondrial genome sequencing provided 100% coverage for all samples and identified 532 variants. These variants were predominantly variants of the ND4, ND5, ND6, and CYTB genes, with uneven distribution among samples and mitochondrial genes. The results indicate a noticeable level of genetic diversity in S.t. tatarica and provide insight into the population structure of the species.