When was evidence suggesting the creation of a "super yak" through early selective breeding estimated to occur?
Answer
Approximately 2,500 years ago.
The historical trajectory of the domestic yak involved phases of intense human influence that sometimes resembled deliberate genetic manipulation for environmental necessity. Evidence points to a sophisticated, early human breeding program undertaken by Tibetans aimed at producing animals better suited for difficult tasks and resource management. This selective breeding program, designed to create a 'super yak,' is estimated to have taken place around 2,500 years ago. This specific timeframe highlights that the domestic yak's evolutionary path is a result of significant artificial selection favoring traits useful to pastoralists, separate from the purely natural selection driving the wild ancestor's survival.
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