Posted on 05/27/2009 2:49:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
...In the genetic analysis, published in 2007, Driscoll, another of us (O'Brien) and their colleagues focused on two kinds of DNA that molecular biologists traditionally examine to differentiate subgroups of mammal species: DNA from mitochondria, which is inherited exclusively from the mother, and short, repetitive sequences of nuclear DNA known as microsatellites. Using established computer routines, they assessed the ancestry of each of the 979 individuals sampled based on their genetic signatures. Specifically, they measured how similar each cat's DNA was to that of all the other cats and grouped the animals having similar DNA together. They then asked whether most of the animals in a group lived in the same region.
The results revealed five genetic clusters, or lineages, of wildcats. Four of these lineages corresponded neatly with four of the known subspecies of wildcat and dwelled in specific places: F. silvestris silvestris in Europe, F. s. bieti in China, F. s. ornata in Central Asia and F. s. cafra in southern Africa. The fifth lineage, however, included not only the fifth known subspecies of wildcat -- F. s. lybica in the Middle East -- but also the hundreds of domestic cats that were sampled, including purebred and mixed-breed felines from the U.S., the U.K. and Japan. In fact, genetically, F. s. lybica wildcats collected in remote deserts of Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were virtually indistinguishable from domestic cats. That the domestic cats grouped with F. s. lybica alone among wildcats meant that domestic cats arose in a single locale, the Middle East, and not in other places where wildcats are common.
(Excerpt) Read more at scientificamerican.com ...
Mysterious winged cat baffles animal experts
The LondonPaper.com | 26 May 2009 | Kris Mullin
Posted on 05/27/2009 2:56:18 AM PDT by Daffynition
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2258909/posts
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Gods |
To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
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Next steps: cross with bobcats.
Become bipedal.
Attain opposable thumbs.
Crush the humans.
A really cute video.... Whack a kitty- http://video.yahoo.com/network/100284668?v=5102912&l=3774740
Awww! Too cute!
and then there is
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