9 | Smurfit Institute: Where did prehistoric cows come from?

Double Helix, sculpture by Brian King

There are two kinds of cow in this world: the humped African or zebu cow, and the Indian cow with no hump. By studying the genetics of cattle around the world, TCD scientists discovered that the two types are distinct, and that prehistoric farmers domesticated cattle not once, but twice, and in very different places. The study gave rise to an award-winning company, Identigen, that uses DNA technology to trace the origin of meat.

TCD geneticists today also study the genetics of many diseases including inherited blindness, and how how some cells commit suicide, work that is important in understanding cancer.

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• Track 09 | Where prehistoric cows came from (4 mins) [MP3, 3.85mB]