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 ...
Yeah, I'm a wildcat. Now bring me some food.
Kilrah avenge me! - Prince Thrakath.
Sssshhhhh. Be very quiet. I don’t think the Creationists have found this thread yet.
I guess those ships' cats got around for thousands of years. They managed to spread their DNA all over the world. Makes for healthier cats in general.
LOL!
Heh heh...
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http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Genesis_1
1 Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem.
2 Da Urfs no had shapez An haded dark face, An Ceiling Cat rode invisible bike over teh waterz.
3 At start, no has lyte. An Ceiling Cat sayz, i can haz lite? An lite wuz.4 An Ceiling Cat sawed teh lite, to seez stuffs, An splitted teh lite from dark but taht wuz ok cuz kittehs can see in teh dark An not tripz over nethin.5 An Ceiling Cat sayed light Day An dark no Day. It were FURST!!!1
Note: this topic is from . A re-ping. I'm grateful that FR is *littered* with cat topics.
Can’t hug every cat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CheBneJ9HmA
Still a good plan to try. Some people don't have a plot to hiss in.
Endemic to all was the fact that the best cats were dead cats
We have a cat who deigns to live with us and allow my wife to feed her and clean up after her.
Dogs have owners, cats have staff.
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