Friday 4 September 2015

Ancient hybridization key to domestic dog's origin, wolf conservation efforts


Date: September 1, 2015

Source: University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Summary: The ancestry of man's best friend is more complicated than its furry coat and soulful eyes betray. Understanding the evolutionary history of the domesticated dog may help protect endangered wolves, according to a study that offers an overview examining the system used to classify dogs and related animals.

The ancestry of man's best friend may be more complicated than its furry coat and soulful eyes betray. Understanding the evolutionary history of the domesticated dog may ultimately help protect endangered wolves, according to a study from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Vladimir Dinets, research assistant professor of psychology, has published an overview examining the confusing and often misunderstood system used to classify dogs and related animals such as wolves and jackals. He has proposed a logical and scientifically sound classification scheme to help make sense of all the contradictory claims. The study appears in theVavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding. Dinets compiled his overview by reviewing existing studies about dog classifications.

"The study shows how complex and surprising can be the evolutionary history of familiar animals we think we know perfectly well," he said.

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