An unusual pattern of ancient mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in Northern African cattle

In this note, we report on a newly acquired ancient DNA sequence of the mitochondrial control region tor cattle (Bos taurus), as obtained trom a 900-yr-old archaeological sample from Eritrea, Northeastern Africa. In combination with 4 other ancient DNA sequences from Mali, Northwestern Africa, we hypothesize that Northern African cattle were more polymorphic, ca. 900-2000 yr ago, because of the greater frequency of a mitochondrial DNA haplogroup (T/T3) that is presently rare in Africa but otherwise common throughout the greater Mediterranean region. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/46.1/123. pdf.