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Scientists in aurochs genome sequence first (Scotland)

Scientists have analysed the DNA of ancient giant European wild cattle that died out almost 400 years ago.

They have determined the first mitochondrial genome sequence from aurochs (Bos primigenius) from bone found in a cave in England.

The work was carried out at the University College Dublin's Animal Genomics Laboratory and Conway Institute using new technology that allows billions of base pairs of DNA to be sequenced.

The technology was similar to that used to analyse human hair preserved in Greenland's permafrost to give clues to what the owner, who lived 4,000 years ago, looked like.
Read entire article at BBC