tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post8152643423396617488..comments2024-01-04T04:11:55.717+02:00Comments on Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog: Retroviruses and the Origin of domesticated sheepDienekeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082684850093948970noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-13444508121300170002010-12-11T10:31:59.723+02:002010-12-11T10:31:59.723+02:00Actually the diversity in Europe is due to the hum...Actually the diversity in Europe is due to the humidity more than anything. If you're familiar with sheep breeds, the fat-tailed variety common in Asia from Syria to Mongolia are extremely hardy, parasite resistant, easy-birthing, low upkeep, and intelligent. Far more so in almost all ways than European breeds, such that American farmers in my area have started breeding them.<br /><br />And the article clearly states the sheep breeds ORIGINATED in Asia, not Europe.<br /><br />Europe's sheep breed variety is due to the fact that many breeds can survive in Europe due to its more temperate climate, whereas the same breeds have astounding morbidity in harsher, more arid steppe or desert climes.Shayanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07079111794180941158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-20829948270300381292009-04-27T04:32:00.000+03:002009-04-27T04:32:00.000+03:00It will be extremely exciting to track this disper...<I>It will be extremely exciting to track this dispersal archaeologically.</I>That may be difficult. At least not so many years ago what manuals said about those kind of remains was "ovicaprids" (i.e. sheep or goat) without any specifics. Picking apart a boar from a pig seemed impossible, not to mention wild olive from cultivated olive. <br /><br />Maybe the technology and the sistematics have improved but guess that in such aspects genetics has much more to say. <br /><br />Wonder why did they study retroviruses instead of directly the sheep genome. It may be an innovative approach but left me somewhat surprised. <br /><br />I find somewhat odd anyhow that most of the diversity appears to be in Europe. Wonder if sheep are less used in Africa and Asia or if they arrived there at a later date for some reason.Majuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369840391933337204noreply@blogger.com