BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Korean scientists have systematically reconstructed the origin, migration and evolution of domestic cattle in East Asia, challenging the traditional "single-origin" hypothesis, Jilin University has said.
Their findings indicate that East Asian cattle emerged through a prolonged process involving multiple introductions and profound integration with local populations.
The study, published in the journal Science, was conducted by researchers from Jilin University in collaboration with Seoul National University and numerous Chinese archaeological institutions.
By integrating 166 ancient bovine samples from dozens of archaeological sites across China spanning nearly 10,000 years, the team assembled the world's largest and most temporally comprehensive ancient cattle genomic dataset for East Asia.
Genetic evidence reveals that around 5,000 years ago, during the late Neolithic period, Bos taurus were introduced into the Yellow River Basin and interbred with indigenous wild aurochs.
Meanwhile, early domestic cattle in Xinjiang show genetic contributions from both West Asian Bos taurus and South Asian Bos indicus. From the late Bronze Age through the Iron Age, these populations gradually spread eastward into the Yellow River region, continuously shaping the genetic structure of northern Chinese cattle.
Subsequently, between the Iron Age and the Ming and Qing dynasties, further blending between northern and southern herds established the genetic foundation of modern Chinese cattle.
This research provides the first comprehensive genetic map of cattle origins and dispersal in East Asia, offering new insights into prehistoric transcontinental human migration, technological exchange, and interactions among ancient civilizations. ■
