Scientists aren't precisely sure how wolves were domesticated into early dogs. dogs , but it's possible that they domesticated themselves by choosing to coexist with humans so that, a new study finds, they could be fed consistently. Then, these snackish canines likely selected mates that did the same.
While The concept isn't novel. The latest findings indicate that it is statistically feasible for wolves to have initiated their self-domestication process into dogs. natural selection .
Archeological and genetic findings indicate that dogs Canis familiaris ) trace their ancestry back to gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) and became domesticated over two historical periods: between about 30,000 and 15,000 years ago When wild wolves evolved into early dogs through domestication, , followed by their differentiation into various breeds from about 15,000 years ago up until today. This process occurred under the influence of distinct evolutionary pressures, as indicated in a recent study released on February 12 in the journal. Transactions of the Royal Society B .
It is believed that the second phase of domestication was largely influenced by artificial selection: people selected tamer wolves to assist with hunting and provide company, intentionally breeding those less inclined towards wild behavior. This process eventually led to the development of the domesticated dogs we recognize today.
However, the selective pressures that led to the initial domestication phase remain obscure. One theory suggests that wolves experienced what’s termed “self-domestication”: as ancient canines began frequenting human communities to feed on leftovers, they gradually became more tolerant of close proximity to humans. Over time, these more adaptable wolves favored a reliable source of nourishment from settlements rather than unpredictable hunting opportunities in nature. Consequently, their progeny evolved into the earliest known domesticated dogs.
Related: A surprising study uncovers that smarter dogs possess smaller brains.
It is thought that a comparable process took place as well. cat domestication , as research found That the forebears of domesticated cats roamed around agricultural settlements approximately 10,000 years ago prior to establishing a symbiotic partnership where they preyed on and consumed mice and rats. in exchange for food .
Dog domestication debate
Scientists have long debated the dog self-domestication hypothesis. One criticism is that natural selection may not be able to work quickly enough to turn wild wolves into domestic dogs over thousands of years — without selective breeding by humans to speed the process up.
In the latest research, scientists tackled the issue of timing constraints by employing a statistical model that examined possible periods for dog domestication and allowed virtual dogs to have control over selecting their living habits and partners.
The study indicated that within approximately 15,000 years, natural selection might facilitate the process of dogs becoming self-domesticated. However, achieving this would require fulfilling two criteria: wolves needed to remain close to human settlements for access to leftover food, and they must have chosen partners with comparable dispositions.
"When choosing partners, females also needed to pick males who exhibited a comparable level of tameness," explained study co-author Alex Capaldi A mathematician and statistician from James Madison University in Virginia stated to Live Science, “If these two mechanisms are operating simultaneously, then it becomes feasible for the self-domestication hypothesis to overcome the criticism related to time constraints.”
The scientists pointed out that while the model doesn't show exactly how wolves became domesticated, the model's results do mean self-domestication is a possibility.
Dogs are the earliest animal to be domesticated, so studying their evolution can help scientists better understand how domestication may work in other species. And since the process of dog domestication was so closely linked to the development of early human societies — dogs herded cattle in early human settlements, and migrated with early humans into the Americas — grasping its chronology can shed light on our past, and how We have developed over time for communication and bonding purposes. with dogs.
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