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Vol. 46 No. 1, 2007
An Unusual Pattern of Ancient Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups
in Northern African Cattle
Marina S. Ascunce1, Andrew Kitchen1, Peter R. Schmidt1,2, Michael M. Miyamoto3,* and Connie J. Mulligan1
1Department of Anthropology, Box 117305, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA
2National Museum of Eritrea, University of Asmara, Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea
3Department of Zoology, Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525, USA
Marina S. Ascunce, Andrew Kitchen, Peter R. Schmidt, Michael M. Miyamoto, and Connie J. Mulligan (2007) In this note, we report on a newly acquired ancient DNA sequence of the mitochondrial control region for cattle (Bos taurus),
as obtained from 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.
Key words: Ancient DNA, Mitochondrial control region, Bos taurus, Northern Africa.
*Correspondence: E-mail:miyamoto@zoo.ufl.edu
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