Most modern dogs, from the Shiloh Shepherd to the Chihuahua, They have detectable wolf ancestors Which shaped the characteristics and development of these animals.
Dogs are the protagonists of two studies published Monday by the journal PNAS, the first on their wolf ancestors and the second on golden retrievers and how some of their behaviors are determined by the same genes as those of humans.
A study conducted by the American Museum of Natural History (USA) revealed this Most dogs today have low but detectable levels of wolf origin Post-domestication, which likely shaped characteristics such as body size, sense of smell, and personality traits.
The study indicates that this newly discovered gene flow It can help provide unique survival advantages Dogs in different human environments.
Dogs evolved from an extinct group of gray wolves under human influence during the late Pleistocene, about 20,000 years ago.
Before this study, “mainstream science seemed to suggest that,” pFor a dog to be a dog, there can only be too much DNA “Wolves exist, if ever they exist,” said Audrey Lane, of the American Museum of Natural History and one of the signatories of the article.
However, the team discovered that if you look closely, wolf is present in the canine genome today.
Researchers have discovered historical gene flow between dogs and wolves Using more than 2,700 genomes It extends from the late Ice Age to the present.
Greater proportions in greater proportions
Nearly two-thirds of dogs are purebred The study suggests that they have wolf ancestry in their nuclear genome, coming from crossbreeding that occurred about a thousand generations ago.
Wolf ancestry is highest among large dogs and in those bred for certain types of work, including Arctic sled dogs.
Czechoslovakian and Saarlos wolfhounds, bred through crossbreeding with wolves, had the highest levels of inbreeding from that animal, 23 to 40 percent of their genomes. Among purebred dogs, The most wolfish They were the Great Anglo-French Tricolor Hound (between 4.7 and 5.7%) and the Shiloh Sheepdog (2.7%). Even the Chihuahua has about 0.2 percent wolf ancestry, notes the American Museum of Natural History.
instead of, On average, terriers, hounds, and hounds have the lowest pedigree. While some large guard dogs have high wolf ancestry, others, such as the Neapolitan Mastiff, Bullmastiff, and Saint Bernard, have none that can be detected.
The team also compared the number of times Kennel clubs use personality-related terminologyD to describe breeds with the highest and lowest levels of wolf ancestry.
The description most associated with low-breed breeds was friendliness, followed by willingness to please, easy to train, courageous, energetic, and affectionate.
Those with a high percentage of wolf ancestry are often described as distrustful of strangers, as well as being independent, loyal, or territorial.
Terms such as intelligent, obedient, good with children, loyal, calm and cheerful appeared with similar frequency in both groups of dogs.
Golden Retriever and Genetics
The second investigation indicates this Golden retrievers and humans have common genetic roots Regarding his behavior.
The team analyzed the genetic code of 1,300 dogs and compared it to each dog’s behavioral traits, revealing the genes behind traits such as trainability, energy levels and fear of strangers.
When the results were compared to a similar analysis in humans, twelve of the genes were also found to be animal genes It underlies human behavioral traits and emotions.
The PTPN1 gene has been linked to aggression toward other dogs, and is also linked to intelligence and depression in humans, according to a statement from the University of Cambridge.
The study showed that the training ability of Golden Retrievers is related to training ability ROMO1 geneIn humans, it is associated with intelligence and emotional sensitivity.