The complete mitochondrial genome of an 11,450-year-old aurochsen (Bos primigenius) from Central Italy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bos primigenius, the aurochs, is the wild ancestor of modern cattle breeds and was formerly widespread across Eurasia and northern Africa. After a progressive decline, the species became extinct in 1627. The origin of modern taurine breeds in Europe is debated. Archaeological and early genetic evidence point to a single Near Eastern origin and a subsequent spread during the diffusion of herding and farming. More recent genetic data are instead compatible with local domestication events or at least some level of local introgression from the aurochs. Here we present the analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of a pre-Neolithic Italian aurochs.

Results

In this study, we applied a combined strategy employing both multiplex PCR amplifications and 454 pyrosequenc

SUBMITTER: Lari M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3039592 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature