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