Ancient European dog genomes reveal continuity since the Early Neolithic

Abstract

Europe has played a major role in dog evolution, harbouring the oldest uncontested Paleolithic remains and having been the centre of modern dog breed creation. We sequenced the whole genomes of an Early and End Neolithic dog from Germany, including a sample associated with one of Europe’s earliest farming communities. Both dogs demonstrate continuity with each other and predominantly share ancestry with modern European dogs, contradicting a previously suggested Late Neolithic population replacement. Furthermore, we find no genetic evidence to support the recent hypothesis proposing dual origins of dog domestication. By calibrating the mutation rate using our oldest dog, we narrow the timing of dog domestication to 20,000-40,000 years ago. Interestingly, we do not observe the extreme copy number expansion of the AMY2B gene that is characteristic of modern dogs and has previously been proposed as an adaptation to a starch-rich diet driven by the widespread adoption of agriculture in the Neolithic.

A genetic perspective on the domestication continuum

“…Sarloos breed; (Morris 2008)), global dog populations form a genetically homogeneous cluster with little evidence for outbreeding with wolves (Freedman et al 2014, Fan et al 2015, Wang et al 2016. The lack of outbreeding with wolves is not solely a recent phenomenon as demonstrated by ancient DNA studies demonstrating that Neolithic dogs from Europe (>5,000 years old) also show little evidence of interbreeding with wild canids (Thalmann et al 2013, Botigué et al 2017. Pigs, on the other hand, show a drastically different pattern with high level of outcrossing between wild and domestic populations (Frantz et al 2015).…”

How old are (Pet) Dog Breeds?

“…Our aim is to shed a light on the history of dog breeding and consequently human history and evolution as well. Dogs are surely the first non-human animals living with us for at least 15.000 years (Thalmann et al 2013;Botigué et al 2017). We think it is important to study the evolution of dogs as a part of our own evolution and human culture.…”

Phylogenetic Analysis of Maternal Lineages in Modern-Day Breeds of British Canis lupus familiaris

“…Sheepdogs (or herding breeds) are grouped collectively alongside hounds and spaniels within a sister taxa cluster on Figure 2, whereas terriers and setters make up the entire network on the other end of the unrooted tree. All herding behavior is modified predatory behavior (Renna, 2008); and humans began domesticating herding/working dogs during the Neolithic period (Botigué et al, 2017). Lastly, I should point out that Figure 2 is comprised of partial sequences.…”

“…Its closest living relative is the gray wolf (Canis lupus), and there is no evidence of any other canine contributing to its genetic lineage (Frantz et al, 2016, Thalmann et al, 2013& Vilà et al, 1997. Studies propose a divergence time of the dog from the wolf ancestor at 27,000 YA (Freedman et al, 2014& Skoglund et al, 2015, with the most recent estimate of domestication occurring between 20,000 and 40,000 YA (Botigué et al, 2017). The cohabitation of dogs and humans would have greatly improved the chances of survival for early human groups, and the domestication of dogs may have been one of the key forces that led to human success (Newby, 1997).…”