Origin story of domestic cats rewritten by genetic analysis

New ScientistThursday, November 27, 2025 at 7:00:11 PM
NeutralScience
Origin story of domestic cats rewritten by genetic analysis
  • Genetic analysis has revealed that domestic cats originated in North Africa and spread to Europe over the past 2000 years, while a different species of cat coexisted with humans in China much earlier. This new understanding of feline ancestry is based on DNA evidence that challenges previous assumptions about the domestication of cats.
  • This development is significant as it reshapes the narrative of how domestic cats evolved and interacted with human societies across different regions, highlighting the complexity of their domestication and the diverse roles they played in various cultures.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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