The Family Times April 2018

pet pages

Where Did Man’s Best Friend First Appear? By: Nicole Iuzzolino

The earliest known dog-like fossils come from Europe. However, some DNA studies have implicated east Asia and the Middle East. A new and large DNA study is lining up with the fossils, suggesting dogs originated in Europe some 19,000 to 32,000 years ago. Most scientists agree that dogs emerged fromwolves to become the first domesticated animal. Their wolf ancestors began to associate and interact with people with theories such as: maybe they were drawn to and met humans by food in garbage areas left by human hunters. In the process of first human interactions they became tamer, and scientists believe people found them useful for things like hunting and guard duty. Over a very long time in this human environment, wolves gradually turned into the first dogs. Researchers gathered DNA from fossils of 18 ancient wolf-like and dog-like creatures that lived up to 36,000 years ago in Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Switzerland and the United States. They compared the genetic material to modern samples from 49 wolves from North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East with 77 dogs of a wide variety of breeds including cocker spaniel, basenji and golden retriever. Thru this study there now is genetic evidence for the origin of dogs coming from wolves and that the kind of wolf that gave rise to dogs is now extinct. Many studies also suggest a better case for Europe than for east Asia or the Middle East as the only place where dogs emerged. Scientists conclude that Europe played a major role in the domestication process but cannot argue doubts that Asia and the Middle East may also have had ancient wolf like creatures as well.

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