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The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication
Carlos A Driscoll1, Marilyn Menotti-Raymond, Alfred L Roca
1Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. driscoll@ncifcrf.gov
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 30, 2007
Summary
Domestic cats originated in the Near East, likely alongside early agriculture. Genetic analysis of 979 cats and wild relatives reveals distinct wild subspecies and multiple founders for the domestic cat population.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Zoology
- Archaeology
Background:
- Domestic cats exhibit genetic variations reflecting their evolutionary history and breed development.
- Understanding feline domestication provides insights into human-animal interactions and early agricultural societies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genetically assess domestic cats and their wild progenitors to elucidate the origins and dispersal of Felis catus.
- To identify distinct subspecies within the wildcat (Felis silvestris) and determine their relationship to domestic cats.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide sequencing and analysis of 979 domestic cats.
- Comparative genetic analysis with five distinct Felis silvestris subspecies: F. s. silvestris, F. s. lybica, F. s. ornata, F. s. cafra, and F. s. bieti.
Main Results:
- Each wild group was confirmed as a distinct Felis silvestris subspecies.
- Genetic evidence points to domestication occurring in the Near East, coinciding with Fertile Crescent agricultural development.
- Domestic cats trace ancestry to at least five founders from the Near East, with subsequent global dispersal facilitated by human migration.
Conclusions:
- The study clarifies the subspecies classification of wildcats and their relationship to domestic cats.
- The findings pinpoint the Near East as the center of cat domestication, linked to early agrarian societies.
- Domestic cats have a complex founding history involving multiple lineages that spread worldwide through human agency.
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