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FROM THE CHINESE CRESTED TO
THE SCOTTISH DEERHOUND, DOGS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES SHARE COMMON ANCESTORS.
Who's akin to the big
bad wolf? Your very own pure bred puppy, of course.
Though scientists have
long known that dogs were domesticated from wolves, there was little evidence to
support where and when these events occurred---until now. Three studies
published in the journal Science shed some light on the origins of the
relationship between humans and their dogs.
One doggy DNA study
makes the claim that all of today's canine companions originated once upon a
time (between 9,000 and 15,000 years ago) from a single pack of female East
Asian wolves. Led by Peter Savolainen, of the Royal Institute of Stockholm,
Sweden, the team of scientists analyzed the genetic makeup of 650 dogs and found
the mother lode---literally.
"We had to acquire
genetic samples from all around the world," explains Savolainen. "We
were able to narrow down the field to three possible locations: Europe, South
West Asia, and East Asia. We then found that [genetic] variation was greatest in
breeds such as the Chow Chow and the Shih Tzu."
A second study says the
discovery of the most diverse DNA in East Asian samples suggests that wolves
turned domestic in the region, then spread into the New World. It seems our
four-legged friends went for a long walk via the Bering Strait, staying by our
side ever since.
Just what prompted the
pups to become part of the family is still up for debate, but a third study
suggests a possible link to the way that dogs are able to read human behaviors.
Dog owners often feel that their canines have an uncanny ability to know what's
on their master's mind. The most likely explanation is that dogs can pick up on
visual cues that other animals miss. In the experiment, dogs found a treat
hidden under an object after a person glanced or pointed toward it. Chimps couldn't
find the cached contraband.
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