Evolution and Domestication of Canis lupus via Human Interaction
By Gabe Miranda
The Questions• When and how did humans and dogs first begin
to survive together in a mutualistic relationship?
• How and why did humans domesticate such a powerful carnivore?
• Are dog breeds really genetically different from one another?
Ancient History
• The Canidae family has its roots in North America
• Canids left North America via the isthmus of Panama and Beringia.
• THE WOLF EVENT!!! (1.8 MYA)
Canis lupus: Most successful large terrestrial carnivore?
• Directional Dispersal is a strategy used by young gray wolves in order to form their own packs, therefore becoming the alpha-male and female.
• Only the alpha-female and alpha-male in a pack are allowed to mate.
• Most packs consist of about 8 wolves (The mating pair, 4-6 pups and 1-2 yearlings)
• There have been packs observed that contain 42 wolves.
Camp Wolf
• The first instance of mutualism between man and wolf happened around 30,000 years ago.
Alpha-hypophamine addiction
• The love hormone, Oxytocin.
Suzanne C. Miller, et alAn Examination of Changes in Oxytocin Levels in Men and Women Before and
After Interaction with a Bonded Dog
• Tested oxytocin levels in men and women before and immediately after two different stimuli were presented.
• Reading a book for 25 minutes and petting their dog for 25 minutes.
Relevance?
• Humans are positively affected by dogs.
• Only women were affected in this particular. study.
• Provides plausible oxytocin puppy hypothesis.
Good Feelings
Fast forward 15,000 years
The first recorded example of humans and dogs co-habitating.
Hunting
Genetically different breeds?Heidi G. Parker, et al
Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog
• Is the breed of a dog really genetically significant?
• 414 individual dogs.
• 85 distinct breeds.• All 38 autosomes.
• 96 microsatellites.
Relevance?
• Breed of a dog is a real thing!
• Physically and genetically
Conclusion• When and how did humans and dogs first begin to
survive together in a mutualistic relationship? The exact date is still heavily debated and ranges from 100,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago. Most research I came across stated approx. 30,000 years ago.
• How and why did we domesticate such a powerful carnivore? A combination of oxytocin based emotions and the skill sets each species contributed to the mutualistic relationship.
• Are dog breeds really genetically different? Yes, one of the most diverse species on the planet.
Future Research• Mapping the wolf
genome.
• Ruby Ruby Ruby! (transgenesis)
References• http://www.searchingwolf.com/wevolve.htm• An Examination of Changes in Oxytocin Levels in Men and Women Before and After Interaction with a Bonded Dog.
Suzanne C. Miller*, Cathy Kennedy*, Dale DeVoe*,Matthew Hickey*, Tracy Nelson* and Lori Kogan†* Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University,USA † Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, USA
• http://www.sciencemag.org/content/304/5674/1160.full#aff-1• Spady TC, Ostrander EA (January 2008). "Canine behavioral genetics: pointing out the phenotypes and herding up the
genes". American Journal of Human Genetics 82 (1): 10–8. Chase, K., D. F. Carrier, F. R. Adler, E. A. Ostrander and K. G. Lark. 2005. Interaction between the X chromosome and an autosome regulates size sexual dimorphism in Portuguese Water Dogs. Genome Research 15:1820-1824.
• Parker, H. G., et al. 2004. Genetic structure of the purebred domestic dog. Science 304:1160-1164. Parker, H. G., and Ostrander, E. A. 2005. Canine genomics and genetics: Running with the pack. PLoS Genetics 1(5): e58.
• Sutter, N. B., et al. 2004. Extensive and breed-specific linkage disequilibrium in Canis familiaris. Genome Research 14:2388-2396.
• Ruusila, V., and M. Pesonen. 2004. Interspecific cooperationin human (Homo sapiens) hunting: The benefits of a barkingdog (Canis familiaris). Annales Zoologici Fennici 41: 545–49.
• http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.genome.gov/Images/press_photos/lowres/50-72.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.genome.gov/11007323&usg=__dNXh_CSm8ot_7PIj9qvbXnEQCbs=&h=751&w=500&sz=256&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=WLyl_q8derop5M:&tbnh=121&tbnw=81&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboxer%2Bgenome%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D607%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=303&vpy=143&dur=224&hovh=187&hovw=124&tx=116&ty=136&ei=2ez8TPHtI8KqlAfq97mIBQ&oei=2ez8TPHtI8KqlAfq97mIBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0