At least five different types of dog with distinct genetic ancestries existed in Europe around 11,000 years ago when humans were still hunter-gatherers, scientists have found.
The analysis is based on DNA sequenced from 27 ancient canine specimens from across Europe, the Near East and Siberia. Researchers say the findings, published in the journal Science, could shed light on the “inextricable bond between dogs and humans”.
“The dog is the oldest domesticated animal and has a very long relationship with humans,” said lead author Anders Bergstrom, a post-doctoral researcher in the Ancient Genomics laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute.
“Therefore, understanding the history of dogs teaches us not just about their history, but also about our history.”
More on humans' relationship with dogs:
- 'Genetic legacy' of Inuit sledge dogs revealed
- (Ca)nine famous dogs in science history that need to be remembered fur-ever
- How did humans tame wolves?
DNA analysis indicates early dog lineages mixed and moved to give rise to the dogs we know today, the researchers said. Early European dogs were initially diverse, appearing to originate from two highly distinct populations, one related to Near Eastern dogs and another to Siberian dogs.
But at some point this diversity was lost as it is not present in European dogs today, they added.
“If we look back more than four or five thousand years ago, we can see that Europe was a very diverse place when it came to dogs,” said Bergstrom.“Although the European dogs we see today come in such an extraordinary array of shapes and forms, genetically they derive from only a very narrow subset of the diversity that used to exist.”
“Some of the variation you see between dogs walking down the street today originated in the Ice Age,” said Pontus Skoglund, group leader of the Ancient Genomics laboratory, who was also an author on the study.
“By the end of this period, dogs were already widespread across the northern hemisphere.”
The researchers also compared the changes in canine and human histories. They found that changes in human lifestyles and migrations were mostly reflected in some dog populations, but there were also instances when human and dog histories did not mirror each other.
Read more about our best friends:
- Nine things you didn't know about dogs, according to science
- Dog personality test assesses how our best friends change with age
- Stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog, the Royal Veterinary College warns
For example, the researchers said, a single dog ancestry may have caused the loss of diversity that existed in dogs in early Europe but this “dramatic event” is not reflected in the human populations.
“Dogs are our oldest and closest animal partner,” said study author Greger Larson, director of the Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network at the University of Oxford.
“Using DNA from ancient dogs is showing us just how far back our shared history goes and will ultimately help us understand when and where this deep relationship began.”
Reader Q&A: Are any dog breeds close to becoming a new species?
Asked by: Phillip Hogg, via email
In a word, ‘no’. Domestic dogs evolved between 17,000-33,000 years ago. Most ‘breeds’, which have been artificially selected by humans, have arisen very recently within the last 200 years.
Visually, a Chihuahua is the chalk to a Great Dane’s cheese, yet they are still the same species, Canis lupus familiaris, and are direct descendants of the grey wolf. All domestic dog breeds are able to interbreed to give birth to reproductively viable offspring.
This is because their genomes remain relatively unchanged, despite their physical characteristics appearing so different. This key evidence tells us that various dog breeds are not in the running to become a new species any time soon.
It takes a long time for mutations, which cause inheritable changes to characteristics, to arise within populations.
Read more:
