Impact of feralization on evolutionary trajectories in the genomes of feral cat island populations.

ABSTRACT: Feralization is the process of domesticated animals returning to the wild and it is considered the counterpart of domestication. Molecular genetic changes are well documented in domesticated organisms but understudied in feral populations. In this study, the genetic differentiation between domestic and feral cats was inferred by analysing whole-genome sequencing data of two geographically distant feral cat island populations, Dirk Hartog Island (Australia) and Kaho'olawe (Hawaii) as well as domestic cats and European wildcats. The study investigated population structure, genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, highly differentiated genes, and recombination rates. Genetic structure analyses linked both feral cat populations to North American domestic and European cat populations. Recomb

SUBMITTER: Nieto-Blazquez ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11321585 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature