Crescent Region Research Articles

Study of animal domestication processes using mitochondrial genome polymorphism (review)

In the article it is presented the results of studies of domestication processes of the main species of agricultural animals, which were carried out with the involvement of mitochondrial genome polymorphism. Mitochondrial genome polymorphism was used in the research of domestication processes for the reason that the inclusion of mitochondrial genes in domestic animal populations occurred only as a result of domestication of females. Most often, mitochondrial DNA sequences are used to determine possible wild ancestors, the number of maternal lines and their geographic origin. Domestication can be may be considered as the final phase of intensification of relations between subpopulations of animals or plants and human societies. It consists of several degrees of intensification, which in different ways and during different periods can end with the appearance of domestic animals, plants and microorganisms formed by people. While domestication of wild animals is a form of domestication that does not entail any visible morphological changes, at least from an archeological point of view (Vigne, 2011). The emergence of agriculture in Neolithic times included the domestication of ungulates animals and was a critical moment in human development. The goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first domesticated species of ungulates animals. The main centers of domestication are believed to be the eastern half of the Iranian plateau and eastern Anatolia (Naderi et al., 2008). Sheep (Ovis aries) were domesticated in the so-called Fertile Crescent region about 9,000–8,000 years ago. Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism studies from 323 modern and 221 fossil pig bones collected throughout western Eurasia showed that domestic pigs of Near Eastern origin introduced to Europe during the Neolithic (potentially via two separate routes) reached the Paris Basin at least as early as the 4th th millennium BC. The native European wild pig had also been domesticated by that time, possibly as a direct result of the introduction of domestic pigs from the Middle East (Larson, et al. 2007). After the species of wild ancestors of domestic animals were determined, the question became of identifying molecular genetic signs of domestication. Traditionally, such research involves comparing DNA samples of wild and domestic animal populations of the same species and searching for genomic regions that demonstrate significant genetic differentiation between them. The genetic differentiation is generally based on differences in allele frequencies between populations, calculated using FST or similar statistical methods. For example, a comparison of the genomes of the Asian mouflon (Ovis orientalis), the bezoar goat (Capra hircus aegagrus), as well as domestic local breeds of sheep and goats within the geographic centers of domestication and cross-border commercial breeds, identified the regions of the genome that were subjected to the strongest selection pressure. By sequencing a library of DNA fragments 300-600 bp in size. sheep and goats, about 33 million Ovis and 23 million Capra SNPs were identified. Using haplotype differentiation as a signature (evidence) of selection, 46 and 44 regions of the domestic sheep and domestic goat genome, respectively, were found to be under selection pressure (Alberto, et al. 2018). Thus, understanding the processes of animal domestication contributes to more thoughtful breeding work to improve animal productivity, achieve desired genetic changes through targeted mutations and genomic selection. The study of the process of domestication allows us to look at the relationship between humanity and the animal world in a new way and to define new ethical standards. The review will help you form your own opinion about the process of domestication, definition of concepts and further prospects for research in this direction. Key words: domestication, DNA, mitochondrial genome, haplotype, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, cattle, neolithic.

Activation of fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 in the early phase of childhood IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of glomerulonephritis worldwide. Pediatric patients in Japan are diagnosed with IgAN at an early stage of the disease through annual urinary examinations. Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) have various roles, including proinflammatory effects, and modulation of several kidney diseases; however, no reports have described their roles in pediatric IgAN. In this study, we performed pathological and immunohistochemical analyses of samples from 14 pediatric IgAN patients. Additionally, gene expression arrays of glomeruli by laser-captured microdissection were performed in hemi-nephrectomized high serum IgA (HIGA) mice, a model of IgA nephropathy, to determine the role of Fn14. Glomeruli with intense Fn14 deposition were observed in 80% of mild IgAN cases; however, most severe cases showed glomeruli with little or no Fn14 deposition. Fn14 deposition was not observed in obvious mesangial proliferation or the crescent region of glomeruli, but was detected strongly in the glomerular tuft, with an intact appearance. In HIGA mice, Fn14 deposition was observed mildly beginning at 11 weeks of age, and stronger Fn14 deposition was detected at 14 weeks of age. Expression array analysis indicated that Fn14 expression was higher in HIGA mice at 6 weeks of age, increased slightly at 11 weeks, and then decreased at 26 weeks when compared with controls at equivalent ages. These findings suggest that Fn14 signaling affects early lesions but not advanced lesions in patients with IgAN. Further study of the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway will contribute to our understanding of the progression of IgAN.

Envelopment by endothelial cells initiates translocation of avian primordial germ cell into vascular tissue.

In avian species, primordial germ cells (PGCs) migrate to the gonadal primordium through the vascular system. Because this mode of migration is reminiscent of cancer metastasis, it would be useful to elucidate the mechanisms underlying PGC migration via the bloodstream. Here, we sought to determine when, where, and how PGCs enter the vascular network by double visualization of PGCs and endothelial cells (ECs) in tie1:H2B-eYFP transgenic quails. In the left and right lateral germinal crescent regions corresponding to the anterior-most area vasculosa, more than 60% of PGCs were enveloped by differentiating ECs forming blood islands prior to vascular network formation. Cell morphology analysis suggested that the PGC-EC interaction was instructed by differentiating ECs. At a later developmental stage, ECs anastomosed to form a vascular network with a lumen that retained PGCs within it. As a consequence, many PGCs localized within the luminal space of the mature vascular network at later stages. Our findings demonstrate that the major type of avian PGC translocation into vascular tissue is not a typical intravasation, as performed by types of metastatic cancer cells, but rather a passive translocation (envelopment) mediated by differentiating ECs during early vasculogenesis.

Designing self-oscillating matter

Designing self-oscillating matter

Serendipity; Close Encounter of Tenascin C.

In 1924, Hans Spemann and Hilde Mangold established the concept of embryonic induction (1). They transplanted the dorsal grey crescent region of one newt gastrula to the ventral part of another newt gastrula and found that a piece of the transplant induced the host tissue into the formation of a secondary embryo. With this as a starting point, the interactions among various tissues became the subject of follow up research during the next decade. In the 1950s, Clifford Grobstein discovered that organogenesis of glandular tissues in prenatal mice required morphogenetic interactions between epithelium and mesenchyme (2). Consequently, epithelial-mesenchymal interactions became a hot topic for developmental biologists worldwide. From 1967 to 1981, similar experiments were done on various organs such as salivary glands, kidney, pancreas, digestive tract, prostate, tooth, lung and mammary gland, etc. In 1969, Klaus Kratochwil observed typical mammary gland morphogenesis by monopodial branching pattern in recombinant cultures of embryonic mammary epithelium with mammary mesenchyme. By contrast, mammary epithelium cultured in contact with salivary gland mesenchyme showed salivary gland like morphogenesis by dichotomous branching pattern (3). Prompted by this observation, Teruyo Sakakura and her colleagues conducted further analysis using in vivo system in 1976. They transplanted embryonic mammary epithelium combined with mammary or salivary mesenchyme under the kidney capsule and made the host female mice pregnant and lactating. The results were clear cut. Both grafted tissues produced milk (4). That is, mammary gland morphogenesis is mesenchyme-dependent, and cytodifferentiation is epithelium-specific. The ability to recapitulate morphogenesis persists in adult mammary epithelium. When embryonic mammary or salivary mesenchyme is transplanted into adult mammary gland, the epithelial cells in contact with the mesenchymal graft proliferate in multiple layers, forming duct-alveolar hyperplasia with nodular structure rapidly becoming cancerous (5, 6). Based upon these results, she built up a hypothesis that embryonic changes in the stroma must occur during cancer development.

Keterlibatan Amerika Serikat di Kawasan Golden Crescent: Analisis Geopolitik terhadap Kejahatan Transnasional

This article analyzes the phenomenon of transnational organized crimein the Golden Crescent, one of the biggest producers of opium globally,and the United States’ involvement in the region. The author discussesthe production base for opium in the Golden Crescent by focusing onone country, namely Afghanistan. There are two main findings in thisstudy, namely the Golden Crescent region as a significant producer anddistributor of the global opium trade; and the business and politicalinterests that the United States brought in its invasion of Afghanistan. Oneof them is his interest in drug trafficking, which is considered to be highlyprofitable. This research concludes that the United States has politicaland economic advantage motives in its invasion of Afghanistan and itsinvolvement in the Golden Crescent.

Virulence of Leaf Rust Physiological Races in Iran From 2010 to 2017.

The wheat leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina, has widespread geographical distribution in Iran within the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East where wheat was domesticated and P. triticina originated. Therefore, it is of great importance to identify the prevalence and distribution of P. triticina pathotypes in this area. From 2010 to 2017, 241 single-uredinium isolates of P. triticina were purified from 175 collections of P. triticina made from various hosts in 14 provinces of Iran, and they were tested on 20 Thatcher near-isogenic lines carrying single-leaf rust resistance genes. In total, 86 pathotypes were identified, of which the pathotypes FDTTQ, FDKPQ, FDKTQ, and FDTNQ were most prevalent. No virulence for Lr2a was detected, whereas virulence for Lr1 was found only on bread wheat in a few provinces in 2016. Only isolates from durum wheat and wild barley were virulent to Lr28. Although virulence for Lr9, Lr20, and Lr26 was observed in some years, the virulence frequency for these genes was lower than that of the other Lr genes. P. triticina collections from host plants with different ploidy levels or genetically dissimilar backgrounds were grouped individually according to genetic distance. Based on these results, collections from barley, durum wheat, oat, triticale, and wild barley were different from those of bread wheat.

Association of Rotator Cuff Tear Patterns and Intramuscular Fatty Infiltration on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective:The impact of rotator cuff (RC) tear pattern on intramuscular fatty infiltration (FI) is not well understood. The purpose of our study is to determine if differing RC tear patterns are associated with discordant presentations of intramuscular FI.Methods:Fifty-one adults with full-thickness tear of the posterosuperior RC on shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were identified retrospectively. The study subjects were stratified by RC tear pattern: (1) L-shaped tear cohort, (2) crescent-/U-shaped tear cohort, and (3) complete tear cohort. Clinical information pertaining to age, sex, tear size, trauma history, and length of clinical symptoms was recorded from the institution’s picture archiving and communication system. Goutallier grade was assessed on oblique sagittal T1-weighted MRI by two orthopedic surgeons and one orthopedic resident. A musculoskeletal radiologist recorded the shape and size of full-thickness RC tears. Descriptive, correlation, and reliability analyses were performed.Results:The L-shaped, crescent-/U-shaped, and compete tear cohorts demonstrated significant differences pertaining to tear size (P < 0.001) and infraspinatus Goutallier grade (P = 0.024), but not supraspinatus Goutallier grade (P = 0.370). Age had strong correlation to supraspinatus Goutallier grade (rs = 0.712, P = 0.031) and infraspinatus Goutallier grade (rs = 0.712, P = 0.029) in the crescent-/U-shaped tear cohort. Tear size had strong correlation to supraspinatus Goutallier grade (rs = 0.796, P = 0.001) and infraspinatus Goutallier grade (rs = 0.793, P = 0.001) in the complete tear cohort. Moderate interobserver agreement was present for supraspinatus (kappa, 0.484) and infraspinatus (kappa, 0.427) Goutallier grade.Conclusion:RC tear pattern is associated with different presentations of intramuscular FI at the posterosuperior RC. Full-thickness tears involving the crescent region of the RC cuff are associated with age. Intramuscular FI is associated with RC tear size.

Phosphorus use efficiency and crop production: Patterns of regional variation in the United States, 1987–2012

Crop N use efficiency (NUE) and P use efficiency (PUE) might be expected to exhibit different patterns across agricultural regions due to their very different environmental dynamics and management strategies. Here, following our previous work on regional patterns of NUE, we review patterns of PUE and related variables, including major inputs of P to US crops over 1987–2012, based on the Farm Resource Regions developed by the Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS). Unlike N, P inputs to cropland only occur in the forms of P fertilizer, which has generally changed little over time relative to N fertilizer, and manure P, which has increased. Expressed as percentages of total P inputs, they necessarily have opposite impacts on PUE because of the stronger relationship of crop production to fertilizer compared to manure produced in a region. Across the US, PUE trends have varied significantly, increasing in some regions, in contrast to NUE which has generally remained constant or declined on decadal time scales. As with N, the Heartland region dominates national patterns due to the magnitude of crop production, showing a significant relationship with fertilizer P but none with manure P on a cropland area basis. Most other regions show similar responses, but the Northern Crescent, Eastern Uplands and Southern Seaboard regions shows a negative response to fertilizer on the same basis. The regional response of production to P inputs on a cropland area basis differs from that on a total area basis, suggesting that the type of scaling used is critical under changing cropland area. In the US, manure is still treated largely as a waste to be managed rather than a nutrient resource. Differences between P and N need to be considered in the context of management of environmental quality and food security.

Anin situapproach to the conservation of temperate cereal crop wild relatives in the Mediterranean Basin and Asian centre of diversity

AbstractCereal crops are one of the most widely consumed and most valuable crops for humankind. The species have been domesticated for over 10,000 years and as such have lost much of the genetic diversity that is present within their wild relatives. Future breeding efforts will require the use of genetic diversity from crop wild relatives (CWRs) to help improve our cereal crops. This study aims to identify anin situconservation network within the Mediterranean Basin and west Asia for the four cereal crops, barley (HordeumL.), oat (AvenaL.), rye (SecaleL.) and wheat (AegilopsL.,AmblyopyrumL.,TriticumL.). This region is a centre of diversity for these taxa and an area of potentially high genetic diversity, which if left unprotected will not be available for plant breeders to utilize in the future. Presence point data for a total of 90 taxa were collected from GBIF and resulted in 76,343 individual presence points across the 44 countries in the study region. Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to identify potentialin situreserve networks per crop genepool and for all crops combined. Results indicate a network of 10 locations across the region which would protect over 80% of the taxa. The number one priority reserve is found within the Fertile Crescent region on the border of Israel, Syria and Jordan. This proposed reserve location contains 93 currently protected areas (i.e. National Parks) and as such, it may only be necessary to alter management plans to effectively protect CWR populations. For taxa not found within protected areasex situconservation may be more appropriate and should be implemented as a backup to thein situreserve network.

Identifying Anticyclonic Vortex Features Produced by the Rossby Wave Instability in Protoplanetary Disks

Abstract Several nearby protoplanetary disks have been observed to display large-scale crescents in the (sub)millimeter dust continuum emission. One interpretation is that these structures correspond to anticyclonic vortices generated by the Rossby wave instability within the gaseous disk. Such vortices have local gas overdensities and are expected to concentrate dust particles with a Stokes number around unity. This process might catalyze the formation of planetesimals. Whereas recent observations showed that dust crescents are indeed regions where millimeter-size particles have abnormally high concentration relative to the gas and smaller grains, no observations have yet shown that the gas within the crescent region counterrotates with respect to the protoplanetary disk. Here we investigate the detectability of anticyclonic features through measurement of the line-of-sight component of the gas velocity obtained with ALMA. We carry out 2D hydrodynamic simulations and 3D radiative transfer calculations of a protoplanetary disk characterized by a vortex created by the tidal interaction with a massive planet. As a case study, the disk parameters are chosen to mimic the IRS 48 system, which has the most prominent crescent observed to date. We generate synthetic ALMA observations of both the dust continuum and 12CO emission around the frequency of 345 GHz. We find that the anticyclonic features of the vortex are weak but can be detected if both the source and the observational setup are properly chosen. We provide a recipe for maximizing the probability of detecting such vortex features and present an analysis procedure to infer their kinematic properties.

Study of Linear Light Edge-Emitting Diodes Based on InP/InGaAsP/InP Heterostructure with the Crescent Active Region

Buried light edge-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a wide emission spectrum in the wavelength range of 1380–1420 nm were developed. The design of an edge LED with a channel in a substrate and with the crescent active region and blocking layers of InP/GaInAsP/p-n-p-n/ZnSe was presented. Coupling of LED with an optical single-mode fiber and a microlens on the end of an optical fiber was performed. The characteristics of LEDs based on mesa-stripe heterostructures InP/GaInAsP were investigated. The dependences of the output power and the LED emission spectra based on mesa-stripe heterostructures InP/InGaAsP/InP with the crescent active region and p-n-p-n/ZnSe structure blocking the leakage current on the stabilization temperature of the active element and the injection current were studied. The dependence of the output parameters on the emitter stabilization temperature was demonstrated, which enables the creation of devices based on such LEDs both with and without forced cooling. The opportunity to develop buried LEDs with the crescent active region and a low degree of emission spectrum modulation was shown. The possibility of the entry of up to 45% of the LED radiation into a single-mode optical fiber using microlenses produced by chemical etching and fusion of a fiber end in a high-voltage arc of a welding machine was demonstrated.

How humans got their goats

Domestication![Figure][1] Genomics traces ancient movements of domesticated goats. CREDIT: PHILIPUS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Little is known regarding the location and mode of the early domestication of animals such as goats for husbandry. To investigate the history of the goat, Daly et al. sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear sequences from ancient specimens ranging from hundreds to thousands of years in age. Multiple wild populations contributed to the origin of modern goats during the Neolithic. Over time, one mitochondrial type spread and became dominant worldwide. However, at the whole-genome level, modern goat populations are a mix of goats from different sources and provide evidence for a multilocus process of domestication in the Near East. Furthermore, the patterns described support the idea of multiple dispersal routes out of the Fertile Crescent region by domesticated animals and their human counterparts. Science , this issue p. [85][2] [1]: pending:yes [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aas9411

Ancient goat genomes reveal mosaic domestication in the Fertile Crescent.

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species.

A Lagrangian analysis of the moisture budget over the Fertile Crescent during two intense drought episodes

The Fertile Crescent (FC) region comprises the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The FC suffered two severe drought episodes separated by a 7-year period, in 1998–2000 and 2007–2009, which are considered the most severe episodes to hit the region in the last 50 years. A Lagrangian model (FLEXPART) and ERA-Interim data (with a 1° × 1° lat-long resolution) were used to identify for the first time the climatological sources of moisture for the FC and their characteristics. Variability and the source-receptor relationships, concerning their contribution to the precipitation, and the implications regarding the transport of moisture changes over the FC, during the wet season (October-May) from 1980 to 2014 were analysed. The main climatological moisture sources during this period were determined to be the FC itself, the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the central and western parts of the Mediterranean Sea.The analysis showed higher anomalous conditions in the moisture transport from some moisture sources during the two outstanding drought episodes. The key feature of the wet seasons during these episodes was a deficit in the moisture losses over the studied area related to the FC itself, the Red and Arabian Seas sources, followed and to a lesser extent by the eastern Mediterranean Sea over the northern part of the FC region. Nevertheless, the moisture supply deficit from the sources was much greater during the 2007–2009 drought event. The SPEI index at large scales (24 months) showed that the 2007–2009 episode was part of longer-term drought conditions that had been developing over the previous months, reinforcing the drought severity given recycling processes attributed to the FC. During the two extreme drought episodes, the mountainous terrain over the northern and eastern FC suffered the highest precipitation deficits, and these areas are, precisely, the most influenced by two of the major moisture sources, namely, the FC and eastern Mediterranean Sea. The decreased moisture contribution from these main sources led to more intense droughts over the region. As a result, both regions should be considered as hotspots to signal severe or extreme droughts in the region.

Lithic analysis and the transition to the Neolithic in the Upper Tigris Valley: recent excavations at Hasankeyf Höyük

Abstract

GENETIC HISTORY OF SHEEP DOMESTICATION

Domestication of sheep in the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East is an important evolutionary and historical event. Modern DNA analysis of sheep remains can complement knowledge obtained through morphological analysis at archaeological sites. In particular, investigation of mitochondrial DNA and endogenous retroviral sequences are widely used for studying the domestication, migration, and origin of domestic sheep. Comparison of the mitochondrial genomes of wild and modern sheep has further facilitated investigations on the origin of domestic sheep, indicating that the mouflon (Ovis orientalis) is the ancestor of domesticated sheep. To date, five phylogenetically divergent lineages of mitochondrial DNA have been identified in domestic sheep. Migration events from the center of domestication were studied in detail using retroviral integration. This progress highlights the need to conduct further genetic studies of modern and ancient samples of sheep so as to gain a more in-depth understanding of domestication events, migration processes, and the formation of basic breeds of domestic sheep.

Setting conservation priorities for crop wild relatives in the Fertile Crescent

The aim of this paper is to contribute directly to the systematic, long-term conservation of crop wild relatives (CWR) in the Fertile Crescent by setting conservation priorities to secure and improve CWR conservation in situ and ex situ as a means of underpinning global food security. We established the first priority list of CWR within the Fertile Crescent following several criteria comprising production value (m × p), projected production value (m × p), production area (ha), projected production area (ha), native status, energy supply (kcal/capita/day), protein supply (g/capita/day), fat supply (g/capita/day), occurrence status, gene pool, taxon group, and threat status. An inventory of 220 priority CWR was established for the Fertile Crescent region. We followed twelve prioritisation approaches and assessed 21,080 species. About 4% of the total species (835 species) were identified as CWR that have socio-economic value for the region. These 835 CWR species were prioritised to create the CWR priority list which consisted of 220 species (1% of the total species assessed). The majority of the CWR priority list (185 species) were related to cereal, vegetable, and industrial crops and 35 of them are related to fruits and trees. The CWR priority list includes crop wild relatives of the genera Aegilops (20 species), Lactuca (11 species), Avena (11 species), Carthamus (11 species), Allium (9 species), Thinopyrum (10 species), and Triticum (3 species). We present the first inventory of 220 priority CWR for the Fertile Crescent. The inventory helps to improve in situ and ex situ conservation and the genetic diversity of CWR. Both the inventory and the methodology applied in prioritisation can be used in setting national, regional, and global conservation strategies. The recommendations will help the Fertile Crescent meet its targets in conserving CWR diversity as well as making sure that CWR genetic resources are preserved to prevent and tackle global food insecurity.

Facile microfluidic production of composite polymer core-shell microcapsules and crescent-shaped microparticles

HypothesisCore-shell microcapsules and crescent-shaped microparticles can be used as picolitre bioreactors for cell culture and microwells for cell trapping/immobilisation, respectively. ResultsMonodisperse polylactic acid (PLA) core-shell microcapsules with a diameter above 200μm, a shell thickness of 10μm, and 96% water entrapment efficiency were produced by solvent evaporation from microfluidically generated W/O/W emulsion drops with core-shell structure, and used to encapsulate Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells in their aqueous cores. The morphological changes of the capsules stained with Nile red were studied over 14days under different osmotic pressure and pH gradients. FindingsThe shell retained its integrity under isotonic conditions, but buckling and particle crumbling occurred in a hypertonic solution. When the capsules containing 5wt% aqueous Eudragit® S 100 solution in the core were incubated in 10−4M HCl solution, H+ diffused through the PLA film into the core causing an ionic gelation of the inner phase and its phase separation into polymer-rich and water-rich regions, due to the transition of Eudragit from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic state. Crescent-shaped composite microparticles with Eudragit cores and PLA shells were fabricated by drying core-shell microcapsules with gelled cores, due to the collapse of PLA shells encompassing water-rich crescent regions.

Narrowing the harvest: Increasing sickle investment and the rise of domesticated cereal agriculture in the Fertile Crescent

Abstract For the first time we integrate quantitative data on lithic sickles and archaeobotanical evidence for domestication and the evolution of plant economies from sites dated to the terminal Pleistocene and Early Holocene (ca. 12000–5000 cal. BCE) from throughout the Fertile Crescent region of Southwest Asia. We find a strong correlation in some regions, throughout the Levant, for increasing investment in sickles that tracks the evidence for increasing reliance on cereal crops, while evidence for morphological domestication in wheats (Triticum monococcum and Triticum dicoccum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) was delayed in comparison to sickle use. These data indicate that while the co-increase of sickle blades and cereal crops support the protracted development of agricultural practice, sickles did not drive the initial stages of the domestication process but rather were a cultural adaptation to increasing reliance on cereals that were still undergoing selection for morphological change. For other regions, such as the Eastern Fertile Crescent and Cyprus such correlations are weaker or non-existent suggesting diverse cultural trajectories to cereal domestication. We conclude that sickles were an exaptation transferred to cereal harvesting and important in signalling a new cultural identity of “farmers”. Furthermore, the protracted process of technological and agricultural evolution calls into question hypotheses that the transition to agriculture was caused by any particular climatic event.