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Ancient goat genomes reveal mosaic domestication in the Fertile Crescent.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Maisano Delser, Pierpaolo  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1844-1715
Scheu, Amelie 
Mattiangeli, Valeria 

Abstract

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species.

Description

Keywords

Africa, Animals, Animals, Domestic, Asia, DNA, Ancient, DNA, Mitochondrial, Domestication, Europe, Follistatin, Genetic Variation, Genome, Goats, Mosaicism, Phylogeny

Journal Title

Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0036-8075
1095-9203

Volume Title

361

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Sponsorship
European Research Council (647787)