Monday, December 5, 2011

Where did Dogs come from?

Based on data from genetics, morphology and behavior is clear that dogs are descended from wolves. But scientists have yet to find an agreement, in parts of the world where it begins the process of domestication. Now researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, states have strong evidence that wolves are the ancestors of dogs can be traced to the south East Asia.

The findings of this Swedish scientists against the theory that places the Middle East as a place of origin of the dog lineage. Peter Savolainen, KTH researchers in evolutionary genetics, says the new study confirmed that the Asian region in the south of the Yangtze River is where humans first domesticate wolves.

"Y-chromosome DNA analysis we did confirm that the wolf was first domesticated in the south of Yangtze River, we called ASY region, in southern China or Southeast Asia," says Savolainen.

The Y data support previous evidence from mitochondrial DNA. "When combined, the two studies that provide very strong evidence that the dog comes from ASY region," said Savolainen.

Archaeological and genetic data recently published in the journal Nature suggests that dogs originated from the Middle East. However Savolainen reject that view.

"Because none of the studies that included samples of Yangtze River region," he said.

Together with a number of Chinese researchers, Savolainen analyzed DNA from male dogs around the world. Their study was published in the journal Heredity.

Half of the dog gene pool is universally spread throughout the world, but only ASY region that has the entire range of genetic diversity.

"This shows that the gene pool in all areas of the world most likely originate from the region ASY," Savolainen said. "Our research results confirm that the southern part of the Yangtze River in Asia is very important, and perhaps the only area of ​​domestication of the wolf, and many of them are domesticated wolves." *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3722]Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments:

Post a Comment