There isn’t another species quite like dogs. We consider these furry creatures as members of our family. But where did man’s best friend come from?
In a study published by science journal Nature, researchers determined that the common dog descended from two populations of ancient grey wolves. While we still can’t pinpoint an exact location for the origin of domestic dogs, this study pushes us closer to finding the answer.
How is this study different than previous dog origin studies?
Previous dog ancestry studies suggested that all dogs came from Central Asia. While this newest study does place dog origins in Asia, it stretches their ancestry to West Asia and Africa. Scientists expanded their knowledge by analyzing 72 ancient wolf genomes spanning over 100,000 years. 66 of those 72 genomes had never been tested before.
Through this research, scientist found that dogs “are more closely related to ancient wolves from Eastern Eurasia than those from Western Eurasia, suggesting a domestication process in the East.” This domestication process indicates a split between wolves and dogs that occurred an estimated 27,000 to 40,000 years ago.
What makes a dog different than a wolf?
When you’re watching your pup eat a stick or cower from a thunderstorm, it’s difficult to imagine them being a descendant of wolves. Surprisingly, dogs and the common wolf share 99.9 percent of their DNA. The main difference between wolves and dogs, besides the obvious physical ones, is the latter’s need for affection.
This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but dogs are much needier than wolves. A 2020 study found that both domesticated and free-range dogs are more interested in human interaction than wolves. They also found that both domesticated and free-range dogs show equal interested in cuddling. Pretty cute, if you ask us.
Next time your pup is begging you for some attention, remember that they are biologically wired to be the neediest creatures on Earth.
