The international team took a different approach by sampling DNA from living cats. They looked at both mitochondrial DNA - the scrap of DNA within the parts of the cell that generate energy and are passed along the maternal line - and DNA from the X and Y sex chromosomes.
A picture has emerged of a feline ancestor that wandered all over the world, becoming one of the most successful carnivore families.
Eight major lineages emerged, including lions, ocelots and domestic cats.
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