Ancient DNA Unveils Aurochs' Complex History and Impact on Modern Cattle

Researchers decode the genetic journey of aurochs, revealing their diverse lineage and influence on today's cattle amidst climate shifts.

Scientists analyzed 38 genomes from aurochs bones spanning 50,000 years across Eurasia, shedding light on their genetic diversity.
Aurochs, extinct for about 400 years, played a crucial role in human history as early art subjects and ancestors of domestic cattle.
Research indicates distinct aurochs populations in Europe, with Western European, Italian, and Balkan varieties showing unexpected diversity.
Climate change influenced aurochs' genetic evolution, with significant diversity loss during the last ice age and subsequent recovery.
Domestication in the Fertile Crescent over 10,000 years ago involved only a few maternal lineages, which were later enriched through mating with wild aurochs.