Ancient cattle genomics, origins, and rapid turnover in the Fertile Crescent

TLDR

Cattle were domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago, yet modern breed analysis has not clarified their origins. The authors performed a genome‑wide analysis of 67 ancient Near Eastern Bos taurus DNA samples. Several ancient aurochs populations were progenitors of domestic cows, with genetic lineages mixing about 4,000 years ago around the Indus Valley, and mitochondrial evidence indicates introgression of arid‑adapted Bos indicus bulls. Verdugo et al., Science, p.

Abstract

How cow genomes have moo-ved Cattle were domesticated ∼10,000 years ago, but analysis of modern breeds has not elucidated their origins. Verdugo et al. performed genome-wide analysis of 67 ancient Near Eastern Bos taurus DNA samples. Several populations of ancient aurochs were progenitors of domestic cows. These genetic lineages mixed ∼4000 years ago in a region around the Indus Valley. Interestingly, mitochondrial analysis indicated that genetic material likely derived from arid-adapted Bos indicus (zebu) bulls was introduced by introgression. Science , this issue p. 173