Mice have been living alongside humans for 15,000 years, according to fossil evidence.
This is earlier than previously thought - and predates the dawn of agriculture.
Scientists believe wild mice crept into settlements in the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean) region to steal wild grains and seeds that ancient people had gathered and stored.
The rodents became what we know today as house mice, enjoying free food and shelter in human homes.
"Nowadays, thanks to this relationship, house mice have colonised almost every corner of the globe to become almost as ubiquitous as humans and also one of the most invasive mammalian species," said Dr Thomas Cucchi of Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.
His research is based on studies of teeth from the remains of rodents found in the -read more
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