The Evolutionary Story Of The Dog

 The Evolutionary Story Of The Dog:

                                                                  

The friendship between a dog and a human is the most amazing in human history. In today's society, dogs are an integral part of society. A beloved companion and loyal protector, behind every wagging tail lies a story that is thousands of years old, when these dogs were like wild wolves. The dog is a very loyal animal. Understanding its evolution provides knowledge about the biological transformation of an animal and also sheds light on the evolution of human civilization.                                                             Origins in the Wild: The Wolf Ancestor                                                                        

This extreme (Canis lupus)genetic evidence proves that all the world's domestic dogs originated from gray wolves. Modern genetic analyses suggest that the ancestors of dogs and wolves were involved in the intelligent social Northern Hemisphere (Eurasia) about 15,000 to 40,000 years ago. The important thing is that dogs today are not descended from wolves, but rather have become rare and evolved from a separate species of Eurasian wolves.  DNA analysis suggests that the domestication process may have occurred independently in multiple regions, possibly in both Europe and Asia, and involved wolves that had different ecological niches.

Unlike modern wolves, these ancestral wolves may have shown less aggressive behavior and were more opportunistic scavengers. It is believed that some wolves began lingering near human encampments, attracted by food scraps. Over time, a symbiotic relationship formed. Wolves that were less fearful of humans and more social had a better chance of survival near human settlements. Humans, in turn, may have found value in the wolves’ presence—as guards, hunting aides, or even companions.                                                                                                  

The question arises: How did this surprising change come about? How did a wild animal that was afraid of humans become a pet and loyal friend of humans? Experts believe there was no premeditated act. No human has intentionally domesticated wolves; it was a natural process based on mutual benefit, which came into existence through time.                              

Self-domestication hypothesis; The most popular explanation for the domestication of dogs is that humans first became loyal to themselves and that early humans fed leftover food to wolves, which made wolves less afraid of being around humans.                                                                       

Natural selection for gentleness; As time passed, these gentle wolves became better able to live and breed near human camps and the ability and ways to live with humans began to be naturally selected for.                        

Mutual introduction and Partnership; Humans began to notice these dangerous wolves, deliberately dropping small pieces of food and appreciating their ability to hunt other dangerous animals such as (lions and bears) and to warn of the arrival of enemies. 

Domestication: Genetic and Behavioral Changes

As generations passed, physical and behavioral changes started to appear in these animals. This process is known as domestication syndrome, a set of traits that tend to appear in domesticated animals. These include:

• Floppy ears (in many breeds)
• Curly tails
• Shorter snouts
• Reduced aggression and fear
• Extended youthful behavior

Experiments with foxes in Russia in the mid-20th century showed that selecting for sableness alone could rapidly produce these physical traits in just a few generations—further supporting the idea that similar developments shaped the evolution of dogs.   

Electoral pressure; Loyalty was reduced not only by physical but also by behavioral traits. Wolves with empathy were naturally selected for their increasing association with humans. Studies confirm we may have to involuntarily affect physical characteristics such as a floppy and curled tail for the ability to control.

Genetic and physical compatibility; As dogs adapted to the human environment, they underwent significant changes.

Nutritional evolution; Unlike carnivorous wolves, dogs have a better ability to digest arrowroot powder. Genes such as AMY2B (amylase-producing), MGAM (maltase), and SGLT1 (Glucose transport) underwent very good expression, peaking around 10,000 years ago with the rise of agriculture.

Environmental compatibility; Different breeds are formed according to each regional environment. For example, if the customs of the environment are good, then dogs will absorb all those qualities according to the human environment and adapt to the environment.

The value of diversity and health from human intervention; Over the past 500 years, their breeds have grown tremendously, thanks to the standardization of Victorian clubs.

Behavioral and Social Evolution;  Dogs developed social skills that were not found in wolves. The dogs began to learn human gestures, such as pointing with their fingers or speaking with their voices, and began to bark to communicate with humans themselves.

A study found that dogs started living with humans naturally and artificially. Dogs are a good example of how they learned their way of living with humans and set an example of loyalty.