12 Nov Dogs DNA shows they are humans’ best friends
The study of dogs’ DNA has proved that they are humans’ best friends among animals. About 11,000 years ago, people started to tame dogs at the end of the last Ice Age. Dogs were the first species that were tamed. They were five groups and used a lot in the northern pole.
How dogs became humans’ best friends
Dr Pontus Skoglund is co-author of the study and group leader of the Ancient Genomics laboratory at London’s Crick Institute. He reports, “dogs were the scary animals from the wolf family. After the last Ice Age, people still were hunting, and there were few facilities. So a big question is how people domesticate dogs? Why did they choose dogs? Why did people need them? We are eager to know the answer.
Dog’s DNA is somehow like humans. Approximately 75 per cent of human and dog’s genes are the same because they lived and moved with people to different places. Most of these genes are used with olfactory organs. But still, there were some differences, too.
Dogs and humans have a lot in common.
Dr Ewen Kirkness described that dogs and mice have the same olfactory organs, but dog smelling sense is unique. However, dogs and humans have about 400 similar diseases which can’t be found in mice.
For instance, there were several European dogs, and all of them were from two original breeds: Near Eastern and Siberian dogs. Meanwhile, after the Bronze Age, new dog breed spread all over the world and replace other populations. This new species is completely different from European dogs. Anders Bergström, lead author and post-doctoral researcher at the Crick, said that four or five years ago, Europe had diverse dogs. Today there are a thousand kinds of strange shapes and forms of European dogs, which all originated from the small ancient groups.
From ancient to modern era
A professional team check and study all DNA of old dogs and compare them together and with new ones. Results of tests show that dogs like the Rhodesian Ridgeback (Sothern African dog), the Chihuahua and Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican dogs) have an ancient dog’s genetic. But the East Asian dog’s dynasty is very complicated. For example, Chinese dogs breed come from Australian dingo, New Guinea singing dog, Europe and the Russian steppe.
Greger Larson, a co-author from the University of Oxford, indicates that dogs and we have a long and deep connection which just history can show the time and place of its beginning.
Why did dogs come to humans’ camps?
It is estimated that dogs came to human camps to search for food. Then humans caught and domesticated them after taming; gradually, they became humans’ best friends and guards and buddies in hunting and dangerous situations. Thus we can conclude all dogs derive from one or a few extinct wolves. As a result, new domestication brings less resemble genetic to ancient ones.
Dr Skoglund declared that the time and place of first taming is unknown. Dogs’ histories frequently change. Thus counting on their DNA to gather information is challenging work. 6,000 years ago, when humans start to live on farms, they domesticated cats and other animals. Cats might have been tamed because of vermin like mice, which were attracted by loads of trash and swages of houses. Near East was the first place that domesticated cats for agriculture needs.
Pontus Skoglund explained that, unlike cats, the source of first dog taming could be everywhere from Near East, South East Asia to Siberia, cold or warm places. They are now humans’ best friends.
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