The main idea of this news story is: House cats come from five kinds of wild cats. This statement encapsulates the key finding of the research discussed in the article.
Where Do House Cats Come From?
Life Science Studies: Heredity, Genetics, and Variation in Traits
Scientists have learned something new about house cats. They learned that all house cats came from five kinds of wild cats. These wild cats lived in the Middle East many thousands of years ago.
How did scientists learn this? They looked at 1,000 wild cats and house cats from many countries. They studied the cats' DNA. Why did they study DNA? DNA tells us many important things. It can tell us where animals come from.
What did scientists find? The DNA of some wild cats matched that of some house cats. Then, the scientists were able to track the cats' ancestry.
Scientists believe cats were domesticated just a few thousand years ago. How? They began to hunt on farms. They hunted mice. Then, the cats and the farmers became friends.
The study of cats is serious work for scientists. Cat DNA can help scientists better understand genetic diseases. Scientists can use what they learn to help people. They can also use what they learn to protect wild cats.
Information for this story came from AP.
Question 4
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What is the main idea of this news story?
Scientists say cats were domesticated a few thousand years ago.
Scientists are learning important things from cat DNA.
Wild cats now live in many different countries.
House cats come from five kinds of wild cats.
1 answer
1 answer