Find out the ancestors of domestic cats
The first domestic cat was an aggressive rat hunter and had a long-lasting relationship with farmers who lived in the Middle East 10,000 years ago. By DNA technology, researchers found the ancestors of domestic cats
The first domestic cat was an aggressive rat hunter and had a long-lasting relationship with farmers who lived in the Middle East 10,000 years ago. By DNA technology, the researchers found the ancestors of domestic cats, which are wild cats in the Near East (Felis silvestris lybica) living in what is today Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Israel.
Wild cats begin to appear in the forests where farmers settle and build grain depots as good prey for rats. This animal is more friendly than the other members of the cat family."Wild cats are still known as terrifying predators, extremely dangerous, fierce, and attacking all species, including humans," study author Stephen O'Brien at the US National Cancer Institute. said. "This cat is very friendly and is a talented rat hunter at the same time."
"Therefore, it was the beginning of one of the most successful biological tests, a ferocious carnivorous species that changed its attitude and became friendly with humans."
However, there is no fossil evidence that humans have domesticated cats since then. In ancient Egypt, cats were highly regarded by humans. A skeleton excavated in Cyprus in 2004 showed that humans have been raising cats for more than 9,000 years ago.
The researchers analyzed DNA samples from 979 cats to find out the relationship between domestic cats and wild cats from three continents, including the Near East. They removed parts of Europe, Central Asia, South Africa, China and found the Middle East to be the origin of domestic cats.
Its descendants have been transported around the world by humans."Every domestic cat seems to have a single ancestor," said Carlos Driscoll at Oxford University, England.
Wild cats in the Near East today may be like their ancestors, aggressive, reclusive and like to eat birds and mice.
MT
- The grrr benefit of cats
- Australia alarms the risk of cats destroying birds
- How will a domestic cat be fitted with a prosthetic leg?
- Did you know how to caress cats properly?
- Cats have been domesticated since ancient times
- Australia: Unexpectedly, gentle animals kill more than 2 billion wildlife every year
- The 'strange' cats in the world
- Funny science mysteries (end part)
- Cats are actually getting fatter and science says that everything has a reason
- Why do cats like to quit 'booty' home?
Shocked with 'monster' resurrected after being eaten, calmly mating, giving birth Reappearing after more than 20 years of disappearance, the animal immediately caused a stir because it was rarer than the panda. Newly discovered toad species only found in Vietnam Eagles that eat lion cubs China discovers unique carp species 'Living fossil' fish haven't evolved in 100 million years Strange bird species specializes in eating bones and 'bathing in iron' The Mystery Behind Geese's Aggression and Why Snakes Stay Away