FLATOW: This is SCIENCE FRIDAY. Im Ira Flatow. Were talking this hour about dogs and evolution and how they domesticate, were domesticated from wolves. Our number, 1-800-989-8255. Our guests are Mark Derr, author of the book “How the Dog Became the Dog: From Wolves to Our Best Friends”; Greger Larson, evolutionary biologist and research scientist at Durham University in England. As I say again, our number 1-800-989-8255. You can tweet us @scifri.
But – and I tend to agree. I think that wolves and humans, despite this kind of negativity towards one another, there was a similar purpose. There was a shared desire to seek out similar game, and as a result of that I think that were not quite sure still when it was, but it was certainly the first domesticated animal and that it was almost certainly something to do with hunting and that there was this relationship that built up between human camps on one side and sort of tame wolves on the other side that were able to tolerate the presence of humans and vice versa.
Did dogs become domesticated 30,000 years ago, or was it a lot more recent? Did humans adopt wolf puppies into their lives, or was it the other way around? Did wolves simply become more tolerant of us? Thats what well be talking about this hour. Our number 1-800-989-8255. You can also tweet us @scifri.
DERR: Well, I think the answer is that the wolf is a wild animal, and people want to keep it that way and not mix it in with dogs or vice versa. But the fact is that there are still people who are cross-breeding dogs and wolves. They dont do it to the extent that its going to make much difference or any difference in the greater dog gene pool, but we also have the problem of the dog being derived from a wolf.
FLATOW: Tell us, if all dogs descended from wolves, how did we go from that to the hundreds, you know, of very different species? If you look at the dog shows, you look at people having all these dogs, they range from the tiny Chihuahua to the big Rottweilers and such.
Many years later, in the 15th century, European travelers first arrived in the New World and discovered that native populations throughout the two continents kept dogs as companions. Some nomadic groups in North America even used dogs as work animals, pulling their belongings in travois.
One canine still exists today that can remind us of the early dog that developed from wolves so many years ago: the dingo. Known for being Australias wild dog, the dingo is believed to have migrated to the land down under from Asia some 4,000 years ago. Close genetic relatives of the Australian dingo still live in Asia, where they hunt in small packs and often scavenge food from humans, just as they did centuries ago. In Australia, dingoes were the companions of the Aboriginal peoples when the Europeans first arrived on the continent. Today, they live wild in the outback and in Australian zoos.
Scientists believe this very special relationship started when packs of ancient wolves began hanging around human encampments looking for scraps of meat. Obliging humans decided to share some of the kill with these wolves, unwittingly teaching them to beg. Over time, the relationship between the two species blossomed and became more than casual. Humans and dogs became friends.
Over the past few hundred years, domestic dogs became more like partners to humans. They developed into different types, depending on where they lived. In cold climates, dogs became athletes that could pull sleds over miles of snow-covered terrain. In farming areas, they learned to gather and protect livestock. In towns, and rural communities alike, they honed their rodent catching skills. The noble gentry used them to track and chase down game, while settlers trained them to retrieve shot birds.
The domestication of the dog was one of the best things to ever happen to human beings. Whether dogs are partners working with us in the field or companions just snoozing next to us on the couch, they are clearly one of the best things about life.
“Whether dogs were domesticated in the Paleolithic or the Neolithic creates two different scenarios for how domestication may have taken place,” she explained. “In the Paleolithic humans were hunter-gatherers. In the Neolithic is when we started to build permanent settlements that would have required dumps. These piles of food and human waste would have attracted scavengers. Some scientists propose that wolves that scavenged at these dumps would have access to valuable food and those that could tolerate the presence of humans would be more successful.”
This is the latest chapter in a long-running debate over just when and where dogs were domesticated.
Drake said this new 3D technique “allows us to test parts of the skull which were not measured before.” The skulls had previously been only measured by caliper, which Drake said, “do not distinguish between dogs and wolves and miss important aspects of the skull such as the angle of the orbits and angle of the muzzle.”
Using sophisticated 3D imaging to analyze several fossil skulls, a study in this weeks Nature Scientific Reports found dogs emerged much more recently than previously thought. Other studies in recent years had suggested dogs evolved as early as 30,000 years ago, a period known as the late Paleolithic, when humans were hunter-gatherers.
Michael Casey covers the environment, science and technology for CBSNews.com Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue View CBS News In
Survival of the friendliest: How dogs evolved to be man’s best friend | 60 Minutes
If you love dogs, youre like many of us who feel like we cant live without them. Thats not surprising, considering dogs have been companions to humans for the past 30,000 years.
Scientists believe this very special relationship started when packs of ancient wolves began hanging around human encampments looking for scraps of meat. Obliging humans decided to share some of the kill with these wolves, unwittingly teaching them to beg. Over time, the relationship between the two species blossomed and became more than casual. Humans and dogs became friends.
DNA evidence suggests the first bond between wolves and humans forged in southeastern Asia. When the glacial period ended about 15,000 years ago, now-domesticated canines spread to the Middle East and Africa, following humans as they migrated in search of game and new territories. Within five thousand years, domestic dogs were present across all of Europe.
Many years later, in the 15th century, European travelers first arrived in the New World and discovered that native populations throughout the two continents kept dogs as companions. Some nomadic groups in North America even used dogs as work animals, pulling their belongings in travois.
Over the past few hundred years, domestic dogs became more like partners to humans. They developed into different types, depending on where they lived. In cold climates, dogs became athletes that could pull sleds over miles of snow-covered terrain. In farming areas, they learned to gather and protect livestock. In towns, and rural communities alike, they honed their rodent catching skills. The noble gentry used them to track and chase down game, while settlers trained them to retrieve shot birds.
As dogs developed different jobs, they began to take on unique physical characteristics. Farm dogs in northern climates developed thick undercoats. Hunting dogs in Eastern Europe became lean and fleet. Dogs whose job it was to kill vermin developed the drive to dig and hunt underground. Over time, hundreds of breeds were created, leaving us with the beautiful and distinctive dogs we have today.
One canine still exists today that can remind us of the early dog that developed from wolves so many years ago: the dingo. Known for being Australias wild dog, the dingo is believed to have migrated to the land down under from Asia some 4,000 years ago. Close genetic relatives of the Australian dingo still live in Asia, where they hunt in small packs and often scavenge food from humans, just as they did centuries ago. In Australia, dingoes were the companions of the Aboriginal peoples when the Europeans first arrived on the continent. Today, they live wild in the outback and in Australian zoos.
Dingoes are able to breed with domestic dogs, and can be viewed as a link between the ancient wolf and the dogs with live with today.
The domestication of the dog was one of the best things to ever happen to human beings. Whether dogs are partners working with us in the field or companions just snoozing next to us on the couch, they are clearly one of the best things about life.
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