A new study suggests that wolves may have self-domesticated into dogs by scavenging human food waste and preferentially mating with other tamer individuals, highlighting the potential role of natural selection in the domestication process.
The story of how wolves became dogs is a long and debated one. While some believe humans actively selected for tamer wolves, others propose that wolves naturally gravitated towards human settlements, attracted by discarded food remains. A new study lends credence to this latter theory, suggesting that wolves could have self-selected into dogs in as little as 8,000 years.
This 'proto-domestication' or 'scavenger' hypothesis posits that wolves gradually evolved into dogs by preferentially scavenging around human settlements and mating with other tamer individuals. As they became accustomed to humans and their food sources, these wolves would have isolated themselves from other packs, leading to a rapid change in their genetic makeup. Researchers used mathematical models to simulate this process, finding that under certain conditions, such as a consistent or increasing supply of human food waste, wolves could indeed differentiate into a distinct 'dog' species within 8,000 years. This timeframe aligns with the estimated 30,000-year history of human-dog companionship. The study highlights the plausibility of natural selection playing a significant role in the domestication of dogs, suggesting that our furry companions may have chosen to become our friends rather than being chosen by us
DOMESTICATION WOLVES DOGS EVOLUTION NATURAL SELECTION SCARECROWING
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