Tag: evolution

Dispersal of Domestic Cats to Europe

Cat lovers in Britain have the Roman Army to thank for their feline friends, evidently… interesting study!

The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago | Science:

European samples that cluster with domestic cats only appear in the 1st century CE, suggesting a later dispersal of domestic cats than previously thought. Although broader sampling is needed, this study shows the complexity of population dynamics that is often revealed when looking beyond mitochondrial DNA

Breathing Two Ways

The Cells That Breathe Two Ways | Quanta Magazine:

Then the team added oxygen back into the mix. As expected, the bacteria grew faster. But, to the researchers’ surprise, RSW1 also still produced hydrogen sulfide gas, as if it were anaerobically respiring. In fact, the bacteria seemed to be breathing both aerobically and anaerobically at once, and benefiting from the energy of both processes. This double respiration went further than the earlier reports: The cell wasn’t just producing sulfide in the presence of oxygen but was also performing both conflicting processes at the same time. Bacteria simply shouldn’t be able to do that.