Scientists have discovered a staggering new thing about cats: that the domestication of cats started roughly 10,000 years ago, during the dawn of the Agricultural Age. This discovery was made during an expedition and analysis of 209 Ancient cat DNA samples taken from cats found in Hierakonpolis, Egypt. The study reveals the ways in which the Ancient wild cats took to human bonding.
Ancient Cat DNA Reveals Cat-Human Bonding
Naturally, it would be impossible to do away with the fact that it is highly unlikely for Ancient cats to bond with humans. But this was done because the wildcats hunted rodents feasting on the grain harvested by Neolithic farmers. Seeing that it was beneficial for them to keep the cats around, the Agricultural sapiens sought to make sure that cats remained in place.
The discovery was done a couple of years ago during research expeditions of Eva-Maria Geigl and her colleagues. According to her findings, the moment has its origins in modern-day Turkey. But, regardless of this, the process was a lengthy one.
As far as the research goes, it was only from and during the Middle Ages that some cats (the Felis silvestris) developed fur with patch-like patterns. And the next evolutionary step took place during the 19th, when they were bred to have fancy coats.
“This suggests that for a very long time, cats have not been subject to strong selection through breeding and that the present-day breeds, in particular, the fancy breeds, are mostly a modern ‘invention’ from the 19th century.” (Eva-Maria Geigl)
The process of sharing of the Ancient cat DNA started once with the commencement of trading. The main roots were Anatolia (corresponding with modern-day Turkey) and Egypt, later spreading through the Mediterranean. And, thus, everywhere humans would go, cats would follow. This, later, corresponded with the fact that these wildcats interbred with already present native cats. Thus, leading to mutations of certain genes within the Ancient cat DNA.
This is yet to be later covered. But it has sparked a, otherwise, postponed research initiative into the origins of the second most beloved pet after dogs.
Image Source: Pixabay
Roxanne Briean
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