Aardwolves, small, termite-eating mammals found in parts of Africa, have revealed some unexpected genetic similarities with domestic cats and other hyenas, according to a recent study. Led by Dr. Terje Raudsepp from Texas A&M University's Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, the research provides the first detailed map of the aardwolf's chromosomes. This is significant because aardwolves are the least-studied member of the hyena family, and only about 1,200 of the approximately 6,000 mammal species have such detailed genetic maps. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Twin Pine Conservation Institute and compared the aardwolf's chromosomes with those of spotted hyenas and domestic cats. The aardwolf has a total of 40 chromosomes, and the study shows that its karyotype — the structure and number of its chromosomes — is nearly identical to that of the spotted hyena. Only three pairs of chromosomes differ between the two species. This finding is notable because it highlights the genetic similarity between these two members of the hyena family, despite their different behaviors and habitats. The comparison with domestic cats was even more surprising. Although cats and aardwolves diverged from a common ancestor much earlier than hyenas and aardwolves, their chromosome structures showed a similarly stable pattern. Among the 19 chromosomes in cats, 12 matched one-to-one with a single chromosome in aardwolves. The remaining seven cat chromosomes were found to be split across different aardwolf chromosomes. This suggests that both species have undergone relatively few structural changes in their chromosomes over time. The study also examined specific features of chromosomes, such as nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) and telomeres. NORs are regions of chromosomes involved in the production of ribosomes, while telomeres are the protective ends of chromosomes. These features were found in the same locations in aardwolves, hyenas, and cats, including domestic cats, lions, tigers, and cheetahs. Additionally, the study found no telomeric sequences outside of the ends of aardwolf chromosomes, indicating that their chromosomes have remained structurally stable during evolution. The research team used a skin sample provided by the Twin Pine Conservation Institute to grow cells in the lab, which can now be used for further genetic studies. The findings emphasize the continued importance of chromosome mapping, even as genome-sequencing technology advances. The study also suggests that hyenas are more closely related genetically to cats than to dogs, and it opens the door for future research into the aardwolf's genetics and evolutionary history.