UPDATE: An estimated 200 Beijing families report their cats stolen a month. Mostly, the missing kitties are sold to wholesale markets for about $3 each. To eat. (HERE)
Recent Genetic study of spittle swabs from felines domesticated, reveals some interesting finds.
The earliest archaeological evidence of cat domestication dates back 9,500 years, when cats were thought to have lived alongside humans in settlement sites in Cyprus.
However, the new results show the house cat lineage is far older. Ancestors of domestic cats are now thought to have broken away from their wild relatives and started living with humans as early as 130,000 years ago.
The researchers focused on DNA in the mitochondria, the "power plants" of cells which supply energy and have their own genetic material.
Comparison of the genetic sequences enabled researchers to determine the relationships between different cat lineages.
The scientists found the cats fell into distinctive genetic clades, or groups.
The results show that, apart from accidental cross-breeding, European wildcats are not part of the domestic moggy's family tree.
Rodent catching
Experts believe cats originally sought out human company, attracted by rodents infesting the first agricultural settlements.
The early farmers of the Fertile Crescent - present-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Israel - would have found the animals extremely useful for protecting their grain stores - an association that continues to this day.
"The Felidae family is well known as a successful predator - very deadly, very ferocious, very threatening to all species including humankind," said co-author Stephen O'Brien, of the US National Cancer Institute.
"But this little guy actually chose not to be that," he said. "He actually chose to be a little bit friendly and also was a very good mouser."
The study included researchers from the UK, the US, Germany, Israel, Spain and France.
Lunch Menu: Silly Rabbit and Tom ala carte
1 comment:
In Mexico he is called Pussy Gato.
But I'm looking for the cannonball competition out by the beach volleyball.
Las maracas.
Donde esta los Mojitos?
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