Swedish researchers have found new evidence that the origin of the ancestor wolf variety of domestic dogs is located in the Southeast Asia. These results go against the theories that place the canine cradle in the Middle East.
The doctor Peter Savolainen, researcher in evolutionary genetics at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), concludes in a new study published this Wednesday that an Asian region south of the Yangtze River was the main place, and probably unique, where were wolves first domesticated by man.
Data on genetics, morphology and behavior clearly show that dogs are descended from wolves, but there has never been a scientific consensus on where in the world the domestication process began. ยซOur analysis of the chromosome and DNA confirms that the wolves were domesticated for the first time south of the Yangtze River, in southern China or Southeast Asia, what you call asy region ยป, says Savolainen.
STRONG EVIDENCE
Chromosome data and support the prior evidence of mitochondrial DNA. "On the whole, The two studies provide strong evidence that dogs originated in this region ยป, says Savolainen.
Archaeological data and a genetic study recently published in Nature magazine suggested that dogs originated in the Middle East. But Savolainen rejects that view. ยซBecause none of these studies includes samples from the ASY region, ASY's evidence has been overlooked ยป, says.
Peter Savolainen and Mattias Oskarsson doctoral student worked with Chinese colleagues to discuss the male DNA of dogs around the world. His study has been published in Heredity scientific journal.
Approximately half of the genetic reserve is shared universally around the world, while only the ASY region had the entire range of genetic diversity. "This shows that the genetic reserves of all other regions of the world probably originate in the ASY region", says Savolainen.
Source: europapress