Dogsey

A new genetic study has just been released, which researchers say confirms that wolves were domesticated by humans in an Asian region south of the Yangtze River. Researchers believe that the Southern East Asia region was the main, and probably only, region where wolves were domesticated – and hence shows the origins of dogs.

The study was carried out by researchers at Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Data is available to show that dogs are descended from wolves - genetic, morphology and behavioural – but there has been no consensus on exactly where domestication took place. Dr Peter Savolainen, KTH researcher on evolutionary genetics, explained that analysis of Y-chromosomal DNA confirmed that it was in southern China or Southeast Asia; referred to as the Asia South of Yangtze River - ASY region.

DNA from male dogs around the world was analysed, with around 50% of the gene pool shared everywhere throughout the world. The study found that it was only the ASY region that had virtually the complete range of genetic diversity, showing, according to Savolainen, that “gene pools in all other regions of the world most probably originate from the ASY region”. Furthermore, he said that the Y Data strongly supported previous evidence from mitochondrial DNA.

The study was published on 23 November 2011 in the journal 'Heredity':
http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/va...y2011114a.html

Referring to a recent publication of archaeological data and a genetic study suggesting that dogs originate from the Middle East, Savolainen did not accept that view because the studies did not consider any samples from the ASY region. “Evidence from ASY has been overlooked,” he said.

To be thorough, Savolainen, in conjunction with other scientists, undertook an extensive study of mitochondrial DNA, with the emphasis on the Middle East. Savolainen said that there were “no signs whatsoever that dogs originated there.” The research was published in 'Ecology and Evolution'.

"Our results confirm that Asia south of the Yangtze River was the most important - and probably the only - region for wolf domestication, and that a large number of wolves were domesticated", says Savolainen.

The studies did show small genetic contributions from crossbreeding between dogs and wolves, which took place in other regions, including the Middle East. However, Savolainen explained, “this subsequent dog/wolf hybridisation contributed only modestly to the dog gene pool.”


Study brought to our attention by: MerlinsMum