The most ancient breed of dogs was searched by a group of Swedish scientists led by Petra Savolainen, professor of the Department of Zoology at the Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology.
The first steps to studying
To obtain reliable information in 2004, the mitochondrial DNA (inherited from the female line) of modern dogs and their wild ancestors of wolves was compared. As a result of the obtained data, a large similarity with wolves in the DNA structure was revealed in 14 dog breeds.
Ancient breeds leave in development from their ancestor for several thousand years. The oldest archaeological find of a domesticated dog is about 15,000 years old. However, some biologists believe that the most ancient breeds of dogs separated from the wolf much earlier.
Scientist Robert Wayne believes that the appearance of a kind of domestic dog occurred much earlier than laying down a sedentary lifestyle of people (about 10,000 - 14,000 years ago). Previously, scientists believed that primitive peoples did not start pets. However, according to Robert Wayne, the first dogs appeared 100,000 years ago or much earlier.
Many scientists believe that the most ancient dog appeared in East Asia. In the course of research, it was there that the greatest genetic diversity was found, which is noticeably inferior to other regions and continents.
The most ancient dogs
- Akita Inu (Japan)
- Alaskan Malamute (Alaska)
- Afghan Greyhound (Afghanistan)
- Basenji (Congo)
- Lhasa Also (Tibet)
- Pikenes (China)
- Saluki (Fertile Crescent in the Middle East)
- Samoyed Dog (Siberia, Russia)
- Shiba Inu (Japan)
- Siberian Husky (Siberia, Russia)
- Tibetan Terrier (Tibet)
- Chow Chow (China)
- Sharpei (China)
- Shih Tzu (Tibet, China)
However, the final answer to the question, which dogs are the most ancient, can be obtained when all modern breeds are examined.