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Cats' Family Tree Rooted In Fertile Crescent, Study Confirms

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n2doc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 12:38 PM
Original message
Cats' Family Tree Rooted In Fertile Crescent, Study Confirms
ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2008) — The Fertile Crescent of the Middle East has long been identified as a "cradle of civilization" for humans. In a new genetic study, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have concluded that all ancestral roads for the modern day domestic cat also lead back to the same locale.


Findings of the study, involving more than 11,000 cats, are reported in the January issue of the journal Genomics.
"This study confirms earlier research suggesting that the domestication of the cat started in the Fertile Crescent region," said Monika Lipinski, lead researcher on the study and a doctoral candidate in the School of Veterinary Medicine. "It also provides a warning for modern cat fanciers to make sure they maintain a broad genetic base as they further develop their breeds."

Leslie Lyons, an authority on cat genetics and principal investigator on this study, said: "More than 200 genetic disorders have been identified in modern cats, and many are found in pure breeds. We hope that cat breeders will use the genetic information uncovered by this study to develop efficient breed-management plans and avoid introducing genetically linked health problems into their breeds."

History of the modern cat

Earlier archaeological evidence and research on the evolutionary history of cats has suggested that domestication of the cat originated about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, a region located today in the Middle East. This is the area around the eastern end of the Mediterranean, stretching from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to modern day Iraq and Iran. This domestication of the cat occurred as humans transitioned from nomadic herding to raising crops and livestock.

Cats, with their penchant for hunting mice, rats and other rodents, became useful companions as people domesticated, grew and stored wild grains and grasses. Eventually, cats also became pets but were never fully domesticated. Even today, most domestic cats remain self-sufficient, if necessary, and continue to be efficient hunters, even when provided with food.

Cats and their gene pools spread rapidly around the world as ancient civilizations developed trade routes. Unlike other domesticated species, there has been little effort to improve on the cat for functional purposes. Instead, development of cat breeds has been driven more by preferences for certain aesthetic qualities like coat color and color patterns.
Today, there are 50 recognized cat breeds. Of that total, 16 breeds are thought to be "natural breeds" that occurred in specific regions, while the remaining breeds were developed during the past 50 years.

more:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129125500.htm
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lapfog_1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
1. Cats do not have owners... they have staff. - n/t
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Maat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. So true ... Lapfrog (nt).
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Birthmark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
2. Great!
Now Homeland Security will bust in our doors because our cats are suspected of al-queda connections. Just wait.
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Maat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. HeeHee ...
:rofl:
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Maat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 12:45 PM
Response to Original message
3. Dexter, Coco, Dot and Snowball salute their fertile crescent ancestors!
:patriot:

Too bad that we illegally invaded the Fertile Crescent (studied it extensively this past year with Beloved Daughter), and allowed looting and destruction of countless artifacts and antiquities, in addition to killing over a million people.

Disgusting that my beloved country did this, while being controlled by the EVIL Darth C.
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trotsky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 01:30 PM
Response to Original message
6. I love this line:
Unlike other domesticated species, there has been little effort to improve on the cat for functional purposes.

Perfection needs no improvement, duh!
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eppur_se_muova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 07:58 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. Little effort? or little SUCCESS ... ?
Cats are such beautiful creatures, they don't need to be functional. :)

"If the eye is made for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being." -- Emerson
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moggie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-17-08 08:13 AM
Response to Reply #6
11. Cats have improved humans for functional purposes n/t
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TZ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-18-08 07:00 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. ...
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 02:21 PM
Response to Original message
7. Axis of Evil! n/t
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mike_c Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-30-08 02:22 PM
Response to Original message
8. most amazing animals EVAH!
This will make an excellent case study for my general biology class-- it has two of the best elements imaginable: genetic sleuthing and CATS!
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and-justice-for-all Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-17-08 05:49 AM
Response to Original message
10. I love the Cat...
I would house a BobCat if I could or even a Cougar.
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kestrel91316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-04-08 08:10 PM
Response to Original message
13. Their DESERT origins are why fish is a biologically inappropriate
food item for cats. Fish consumption is associated with an unacceptably high risk of skin problems, gastrointestinal problems, urinary problems, and certain cancers in cats.

Why, then, do they put it in cat food, you ask?

Why, indeed? You get one guess. Hint: this is the USA, where free-market capitalism is de rigeur.



I'll get back down off my soapbox now and return this thread to its regularly scheduled programming.....

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