Dogs originated from wolves domesticated in Europe, 19,000-32,000 years ago: researchers
Author: Malcolm Ritter (AP)
Summary:
Scientists have been wondering where dogs have originated for years. Evidence from Europe suggests that fossils of bones show that the domestic dog originated and was first domesticated in Europe. A large DNA study is lining up with the discovered fossils suggesting that dogs originated in Europe some 19,000 to 32,000 years ago. Scientists agree that dogs emerged from wolves to become the first domesticated animal, and after a long time surrounded by human environment (garbage dumps and carcasses left by human hunters), becoming tamer. Scientists believe that people found them useful for hunting and guard duty. The latest attempt to figure out where this domestication happened was published Thursday by the journal Science.
Researchers gathered DNA from fossils of 18 ancient wolf- life and dog- like creatures that lived up to 36,000 years ago in Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Switzerland and the United States. Scientists compared the genetic material to modern samples from 49 wolves from North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and 77 dogs of a wide variety of breeds. The DNA of modern dogs showed similarities to the genetic material from ancient European specimens and modern day European wolves. Robert Wayne of UCLA said that the kind of wolf that gave rise to dogs is now extinct, by that they could conclude that Europe played a major role in the domestication process. However, this doesn't mean that this is the only place dogs were introduced, by it presents a strong argument for an origin in Europe.
Connection:
This connects to our past chapter because it involves artificial selection, using human desired traits and years of evolution to domesticate wolves into dogs. Archaeology and fossils play a large part in determining whether the discovered specimens share homologous structures. The similarities in homologous structures of fossils in different areas. Genetics played a part as well, since over time a subspecies appeared due to artificial selection, prompting the split of domesticated dogs and wolves.
The article never explicitly mentioned the concept of artificial selection occurring, so did the tamer wolves continue to breed with the wild individuals of their species, or did the humans breed the tame wolves with other tame wolves (did artificial selection take place)? Is there even any evidence to have a definite answer as of yet?
ReplyDeleteWere the wolves later used to help perform tasks after they became tamed or just for love like now.
ReplyDeleteDid the dogs/wolves have any personal interaction with the humans? It's hard to believe they would become domesticated just from eating their trash and things like that.
ReplyDelete@ Thanoshi although artificial selection may not have been explicitly desired by the people, but overtime as wolves were able to come in contact with the people they became tamer, similar to how humans unknowingly selected certain plants for agriculture. There isn't explicit evidence but the precense of fossils implies that they were first domesticated in Europe
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