Scientists discover 64% of dog breeds have recent wolf DNA, influencing size, scent ability and personality traits like independence
PARIS: Nearly two-thirds of modern dog breeds carry detectable wolf DNA from interbreeding within the last few thousand years, scientists revealed on Monday.
Researchers from the Smithsonian and American Museum of Natural History analysed thousands of dog and wolf genomes for the new study.
They found 64% of breeds have wolf ancestry, including tiny chihuahuas with approximately 0.2% wolf DNA.
“This completely makes sense to anyone who owns a chihuahua,” lead author Audrey Lin joked in a statement.
The discovery surprised scientists who previously believed dogs contained little if any wolf genetic material.
This wolf DNA isn’t residual from dogs’ original domestication 20,000 years ago but comes from more recent interbreeding.
Logan Kistler from the Smithsonian Museum clarified that “wolves are not coming into your house and mixing it up with your pet dog”.
Czechoslovakian and Saarloos wolfdogs showed the highest wolf DNA content at up to 40%.
Among common pet breeds, the Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore hound ranked highest with around 5% wolf ancestry.
Sight hounds including Salukis and Afghans also contained significant wolf genetic material.
All village dogs living near human settlements but not kept as pets showed wolf ancestry.
Kistler suggested village dogs might facilitate wolf DNA transfer by occasionally breeding with wolves.
The research linked wolf DNA to physical traits like size and scent ability plus personality characteristics.
Breeds with minimal wolf DNA were often described as friendly, trainable and affectionate.
Dogs with more wolf ancestry tended toward independence, territorial behaviour and suspicion of strangers.
Kistler emphasised breed descriptions don’t predict individual dog behaviour accurately.
Wolves evolved for specific habitats while dogs adapted globally with humans, he explained.
Some Tibetan breeds like Lhasa Apsos share the EPAS1 high-altitude adaptation gene with Tibetan wolves.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. – AFP
