Genomic and archaeological evidence suggest a dual origin of domestic dogs

Abstract

The geographic and temporal origins of dogs remain controversial. We generated genetic sequences from 59 ancient dogs and a complete (28x) genome of a late Neolithic dog (dated to ~4800 calendar years before the present) from Ireland. Our analyses revealed a deep split separating modern East Asian and Western Eurasian dogs. Surprisingly, the date of this divergence (~14,000 to 6400 years ago) occurs commensurate with, or several millennia after, the first appearance of dogs in Europe and East Asia. Additional analyses of ancient and modern mitochondrial DNA revealed a sharp discontinuity in haplotype frequencies in Europe. Combined, these results suggest that dogs may have been domesticated independently in Eastern and Western Eurasia from distinct wolf populations. East Eurasian dogs were then possibly transported to Europe with people, where they partially replaced European Paleolithic dogs.

A genome scan for selection signatures comparing farmed Atlantic salmon with two wild populations: Testing colocalization among outlier markers, candidate genes, and quantitative trait loci for production traits

“…Domestication is the evolutionary process of genetic adaptation of wild animal populations to environmental conditions created deliberately or accidently by humans. This process can involve changes in morphological, physiological, behavioral, and life history traits (Mignon‐Grasteau et al., 2005) and began at least 15,000 YBP, when dogs were domesticated to facilitate hunting or to guard human settlements (Axelsson et al., 2013; Braastad & Bakken, 2002; Frantz et al., 2016). Subsequently, from 8,000 to 10,000 YBP, pigs, sheep, goats and cattle were domesticated as a source of food (Craig, 1981).…”

Revisiting two hypotheses on the “domestication syndrome” in light of genomic data

“…1). (The dog is one species, however, whose initial domestication took place considerably earlier, and perhaps twice, independently, probably more than 15,000 years ago (Frantz et al, 2016). )…”

Chicken domestication : Effects of tameness on brain gene expression and DNA methylation

“…Among the oldest domesticated species are the dog and livestock animals, specifically pig, sheep, cattle and chickens, some domesticated over 10000 years ago [3][4][5][6]. The domestication timespan is relatively short from an evolutionary point of view, yet in no wild species do we see such variation and novelty of traits as in the domesticates [7].…”