page_title: Uruz Project
section_title: Selection criteria
hierarchical_section_title: Uruz Project / Selection criteria
caption_attribution_description: English: The most important external features of the aurochs at one sight.
context_page_description: The Uruz Project had the goal of breeding back the extinct aurochs. Uruz is the old Germanic word for aurochs. The Uruz Project was initiated in 2013 by the True Nature Foundation and presented at TEDx DeExtinction, a day-long conference organised by the Long Now Foundation with the support of TED and in partnership with National Geographic Society, to showcase the prospects of bringing extinct species back to life. The de-extinction movement itself is spearheaded by the Long Now Foundation.
  Technically, Bos primigenius is not wholly extinct. The wild subspecies B. p. primigenius, indicus and africanus are, but the species is still represented by domestic cattle. Most, or all, of the relevant Aurochs characteristics, and therefore the underlying DNA, needed to "breed back" an aurochs-like cattle type can be found in B. p. taurus. Domestic cattle originated in the middle east, and there also has been introgression of European aurochs into domestic cattle in ancient times. The Uruz Project's goal is to collect all relevant data and reunite scattered aurochs characteristics, and thus DNA, in one animal.
context_section_description: For assessment and definition of Aurochs appearance and behaviour, the Uruz Project integrates knowledge and expertise from multiple scientific disciplines, including archaeozoology, archaeology, cattle breeding, ecology, zoological forensic research, ancient genetics and molecular biology. Physical selection criteria have been established for both bulls and cows. This includes both phenotype, including shoulder height, overall build, coloration, head, horns and coat, and socioecological behaviour and use of terrain and vegetation.
caption: Physical features of the Aurochs
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