Technology News

Stem cell heart surgery may spell the end for transplantation
British scientists have developed a new technique that can rebuild a severely damaged heart, and one day, might replace the need for transplantation. ANI

A new insight into the turbulent atmosphere of Venus
New images taken by instruments on board ESAs (European Space Agencys) Venus Express have provided insight into the turbulent atmosphere of our neighbouring planet. ANI

ESA tests laser to measure atmospheric CO2
A recent ESA (European Space Agency) campaign has demonstrated how a technique using lasers could be employed to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. ANI

Cat domestication started in the Fertile Crescent region: Study

A new study has confirmed that the ancestral road for the modern day domestic cat leads back to the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East.

Washington, Jan 30 : A new study has confirmed that the ancestral road for the modern day domestic cat leads back to the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East.

The study, led by Monika Lipinski, a doctoral candidate in the School of Veterinary Medicine, involved more than 11,000 cats.

"This study confirms earlier research suggesting that the domestication of the cat started in the Fertile Crescent region. It also provides a warning for modern cat fanciers to make sure they maintain a broad genetic base as they further develop their breeds," Lipinski said.

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."

In the study, the research team focused on tracing the movement of the modern cat through the ancient world and to the Americas; measuring changes in genetic diversity as cats dispersed throughout the world; and measuring any loss of genetic diversity that might have occurred in the development of the older or more contemporary breeds.

The researchers collected samples of cheek cells from more than 11,000 cats. These cats represented 17 populations of randomly bred cats from Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as 22 recognized breeds.

Genetic markers called "microsatellite markers," commonly used for DNA profiling, were used to determine the genetic relationships of cat breeds, their geographic origins and the levels of genetic loss that have resulted from inbreeding.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans, other animals and plants. It carries the instructions or blueprint for making all the structures and materials that the organism needs to function.

From the DNA analysis, the researchers found that the cats were genetically clustered in four groups that corresponded with the regions of Europe, the Mediterranean basin, east Africa and Asia.

They discovered that randomly bred cats in the Americas were genetically similar to randomly bred cats from Western Europe. The study yielded many interesting breed-specific findings.

In addition, the researchers found that, of the Asian cat breeds, only the Japanese bobtail was genetically clustered with Western cats, although it did retain some Asian influence.

Cats from the Mediterranean region were found to be genetically uniform, perhaps a result of the constant movement of ships and caravans during the early era of the cat's domestication, the researchers suggested.

The study is published in the journal Genomics.

ANI