The Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea and Panthera fossilis)

[GrizzlyClaws]

@Polar

The interbreeding is only possible between two closely related species within the same genus. Lion and tiger although belong to the same genus, but they are genetically the most far away between each other. Therefore, the interbreeding is less likely in the wild.

For instance, the Y-DNA of the Polar bear has been discovered with some unknown ancient lineage, and this ancient lineage could have possibly belonged to the Cave bear.

If this turns out to be true, then the formation of the Polar bear was created via the hybridization between the male Cave bear and female Brown bear. Not just for the environmental adaption, but the hybridization could be the main factor that triggered the radical appearance shift of the Polar bear from the Brown bear.

So if they use the genome of the modern lion to clone the Cave lion, although the clone would be hybridized, but it should still be a functionally viable species that is capable to reproduce just like the naturally hybridized Polar bear, unlike sterile the liger. Reply