Scientists discover hidden wolf DNA in most dogs
Reported by ScienceDaily · November 29 at 4:49 PM · Summary by Pawdeck
A study published November 24 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led by Audrey Lin of the American Museum of Natural History with Smithsonian researchers, analyzed more than 2,700 canine genomes. It found that almost two-thirds of breed dogs carry some wolf ancestry from hybridization about 1,000 generations ago, and every village dog studied did too.
Background
Dogs descended from gray wolves tens of thousands of years ago, and most breeds were shaped by selective breeding for many generations. Occasional crossing with wolves or wolf-dog hybrids is a known part of some breed histories, and small leftover genetic contributions from such events are common in domestic animals.
Why it matters
Knowing that dogs carry traces of wolf ancestry helps explain why traits like body size, scent ability and behavior vary across breeds and between individual dogs.
What you can do
No specific action is needed for most owners. If you are curious about your dog's background, a commercial DNA test can estimate breed mix, and your vet can tell you more about breed-linked traits.
Written by Pawdeck from the report by ScienceDaily. Background is general information, not advice about your dog or cat; if you are worried, call your vet.
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