Latest Theory: Modern Dog Derived from Wolves in the Age of Ancient Europe

 

Man's best friend may be derived from gray wolves in Europe (gray wolf), according to new research scientists who are opposed to the previous theories about where and why a dog can be a pet / domestic.

This latest discovery, described in detail in the journal Science last week, challenging previous studies that say that the domestic dog originated from East Asia or the Middle East and has nothing to do with the phenomenon of the rise of agriculture.

"Other wild species maintained with regard to the development of agriculture and then needed to be near the man. It would be a difficult position for a large predator aggressive," according to a statement Robert Wayne, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In a recent study, a team led by Olaf Thalman geneticist from the University of Turku in Finland using DNA analysis techniques to determine the origin of the first wolves were domesticated.

 

The scientists collected DNA from 18 samples, mostly from animal Canidae ancient Europe, eight of which are classified as 'like a dog' and 10 'wolf'. They compared the DNA samples of ancient animals before the samples were collected from 77 dogs of various breeds, 49 modern wolves from Europe, Asia and other countries and 4 coyotes.

From Scavengers to be a Patron

The researchers found that the DNA of the modern dog is best suited to the ancient wolf of Europe, which indicates that the domestication of dogs began from there. They also concluded that dogs are descended from ancient European wolf populations are now extinct.

"We found that compared to modern wolves, jackals ancient Europe has a direct relationship with the domestic dog" said Wayne. "It carries the genetic records have in common with the archaeological record. Europe is a place where the oldest dog was found."

 

Fossil dogs used in the study are thought to originate from the 19,000 or 32,000 years ago, around the time of the hunter (gatherer) live in Europe.

Initially, the wolves can scavenge or eat the carcasses of Mammoth and other large animals were killed by poachers, said Wayne told National Geographic.

 

When they (wolves) have become pets, Wayne said, everything has been tamed by the hunter replied the master help protect against dangerous predators, or by helping hunt.

Brian Hare, director of the Canine Cognition Center at Duke University, said the findings make sense based on what scientists know about early human migration.

It is unclear from this study whether the new dog domestication started from a group of ancient European hunters and then spread or occur in multiple groups simultaneously.