Ancient genomics and the origin, dispersal, and development of domestic sheep.

SHEEP; AFRICAN animals; SHEEP breeds; HERITAGE tourism; COPPER Age; DOMESTICATION of animals

The article "Ancient genomics and the origin, dispersal, and development of domestic sheep" explores the genetic history of domestic sheep through the analysis of 118 ancient genomes spanning 12,000 years across Eurasia. The study reveals a mosaic of wild ancestries in sheep populations, indicating selection by ancient herders for specific traits. The research suggests that the first European sheep flocks originated from Central Türkiye, with a major influx of Western steppe-related ancestry in the Bronze Age. The findings shed light on the origins, dispersal, and development of sheep management and husbandry practices over millennia. [Extracted from the article]

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