An unidentified species of a hybrid bison is in the limelight following a new research that revealed information related to its identity. Investigation is looking at the fact that a primordial DNA and cave artworks from the last ice period can address the peculiar emergence of the animal.
The organism being studied has been identified as "Higgs Bison." Pieces of evidence about its existence have put together over the last 15 years. Like the sought-after subatomic particle of the Higgs organism, there has never been any affirmation of the bison's presence.
The development leading to the characterization of the ancient creature will be leaning on the DNA of its acquired bones. Researchers say that this hybrid vertebrate comes from the modern cattle ancestor Aurochs and the steppe bison from the ice age era.
The investigation's senior researcher Alan Cooper points out that life of a hybrid organism is usually cut short due to being sterile. However, the bison is quite different considering that it was able to find a way to extend its lineage. The Director of the Australian Center for Ancient DNA in Adelaide further adds that today's European bison, the Bison bonasus, is a product of such line.
Although the Bos primigenius or the Aurochs and the Bison priscus are diverse, these animals are able to establish a character that was able to sustain its existence up to the point of eluding extinction during the European ice period.
During the course of the study, the bones and teeth extracted from the European caves, the Caucasus highlands in Eurasia and the Ural Mountains in Russia have been investigated. Research has also been done on the primeval DNA of 64 other bison in order to locate the mitochondrial components from the parents.
Findings show a contrasting view. Even though the nuclear DNA is associated with the steppe bison, the mitochondrial element is cattle.
Cooper suggests that a cross mating approach between female Aurochs and male steppe bison started the hybrid lineage. The animal possesses a component of 10 percent Aurochs and 90 percent steppe bison.
However, with no hybrid skull in their possession, investigators remain baffled. It is then proposed that ice-age cave depictions from Europe be utilized as bases.
As it turns out, the suggestion has somewhat redeemed those who had pointed out that a couple of bison forms are observed in the cave. Similar to the American one, which survived the Pleistocene extinction, the animal from the first art portrays long horns or large forequarters. The other bison image depicts a shorter horn with small humps like the modern European ones which surfaced 11,700 years ago.
