Monday, November 10, 2014

Cat genome may explain how we got such ferocious pets


The ordinary house cat, best-known for its sleeping habits and hunting prowess, is smarter than its feral peers, according to scientists who have mapped the cat's genome. An analysis of the the domestic cat genome suggests changes in genes associated with memory, fear-conditioning, and learning. Those genetic changes may reflect cat owners breeding tame animals over our 9,000 years of coexistence.


Scientists sequenced the genome of a female Abyssinian cat named Cinnamon, and compared it to genetic assemblies of six other domestic cat breeds, two wild cat species — the European wildcat F. silvestris silvestris and the African wildcat, F. silvestris lybica — and four other mammals, including humans and cows, according to a report in the P...


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