In an attempt to finally put an end to the debate over when and where dogs first originated, a Cornell University-led team of researchers analyzed the DNA of 549 canines representing 38 different countries and found that they most likely first arrived in Central Asia.
Specifically, man’s best friend probably evolved somewhere near modern-day Nepal and/or Mongolia at least 15,000 years ago ABC News and the New York Times reported on Monday. These weren’t house pets, however, but “village dogs” that freely roamed the streets.
The study, which has been published by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), contradicts previous research that suggested canines first appeared in Europe, the Middle East, Siberia, or China. It did not focus on the date of their arrival, looking instead for genetic signals to trace their roots to a specific part of the world.
Cornell researchers Adam Boyko and Laura Shannon examined three different kinds of DNA in both purebred dogs and free-roaming village dogs, marking the first time such an extensive analysis has been performed on such a diverse group of canines. The results all pointed towards Central Asia.
People will still debate findings
In addition to concluding that this region, particularly the area near Mongolia and Nepal, was the birthplace of all modern day dogs, the study – which did not determine the precise date of canine arrival – found that dogs have been around for at least 15,000 years.
Even so, Boyko told ABC News that he was doubtful that his team’s findings would put an end to the debate over canine origins, stating, “I’m not pretending my study alone is enough to rally the community together.” Almost right on cue, UCLA’s Robert Wayne, who in 2013 conducted a similar study that led him to propose a European origin for dogs, disputed the findings.
Wayne questioned Boyko’s use of modern-day genetic material, as did fellow dog expert Greger Larson from Oxford University. Larson, however, called the new study “a major step forward” and said that, with Central Asia now established as a candidate, “everyone with a favorite region can point to at least one paper that supports their suspicions.”
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Feature Image: Thinkstock
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