Genetic origin, admixture and population history of aurochs (Bos primigenius) and primitive European cattle

The domestication of taurine cattle initiated ~10 000 years ago in the Near East from a wild aurochs (Bos primigenius) population followed by their dispersal through migration of agriculturalists to Europe. Although gene flow from wild aurochs still present at the time of this early dispersion is still debated, some of the extant primitive cattle populations are believed to possess the aurochs-like primitive features. In this study, we use genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to assess relationship, admixture patterns and demographic history of an ancient aurochs sample and European cattle populations, several of which have primitive features and are suitable for extensive management. The principal component analysis, the model-based clustering and a distance-based network analysis support previous works suggesting different histories for north-western and southern European cattle. Population admixture analysis indicates a zebu gene flow in the Balkan and Italian Podolic cattle p...普通牛（taurine cattle）的驯化活动始于约1万年前的近东地区，其祖先源自野生原牛（aurochs，*Bos primigenius*）种群，随后随农耕群体的迁徙扩散至欧洲。尽管在此次早期扩散阶段仍存活的野生原牛所介导的基因流（gene flow）仍存在学术争议，但目前部分现存的原始牛类种群被认为具备类原牛的原始性状。本研究采用全基因组单核苷酸多态性（genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms）标记，对一件古代原牛样本与欧洲牛种群的亲缘关系、基因混合模式及种群历史动态展开评估；其中部分欧洲牛种群兼具原始性状且适配粗放式饲养模式。主成分分析（principal component analysis）、基于模型的聚类分析以及基于距离的网络分析均佐证了此前的研究结论，即欧洲西北牛群与南欧牛群拥有截然不同的演化历程。种群混合分析显示，巴尔干半岛与意大利波洛德肉牛（Podolic cattle）中存在瘤牛（zebu）的基因流……