evolution and domestication of dogs

Question 1

dogs closest relative

Answer 1

grey wolf (canis lupus)

Question 2

dog and grey wolf are sister taxa ie

Answer 2

both evolved from common ancestor

Question 3

order and family

Answer 3

carnivora, canidae

Question 4

miacis

Answer 4

ancestor of canidae, 60 MYA, small weasel-like mammal

Question 5

miacis evolved into

Answer 5

cynodictis (greek for inbetween dog)

elongated limbs and feet for running
carnassial teeth specialized for shearing
expanded cranium and brain

Question 6

evolution of dogs is characterized by what 3 traits

Answer 6

elongated limbs and feet for running
carnassial teeth specialized for shearing
expanded cranium and brain

Question 7

cynodictis gave rise to 2 branches

Answer 7

africa and eurasia

eurasian branch: tomarctus is progenitor for wolves dogs and foxesw

Question 8

cynodictis have rise to african and eurasian branch

which was progentior for wolves, dogs and foxes

Answer 8

eurasian: tomarctus

Question 9

domestication

Answer 9

process of developing mutually useful relationship between animals an humans

Question 10

domestication criteria (6)

Answer 10

• flexible diet
• reasonable growth rate
• breed in captivity
• pleasant disposition
• steady temperament
• modifiable social hierarchy

Question 11

did dogs evolve from the eurasian grey wold (canis lupus)

Answer 11

NO, originally thought yes but they both evolved from a now extinct common wolf ancestor

they r close relatives but dogs did not evolve from them

Question 12

dogs were domesticated

Answer 12

twice

Question 13

initial wold population split into

Answer 13

european and asian populations

Question 14

out of the european and asian wold populations, which were most modern dogs derived from

Answer 14

asian

Question 15

dogs were domesticated before of after humans transitioned to agriculture societies

Answer 15

BEFORE

Question 16

why might have dogs been domesticated

Answer 16

• ate carcasses humans left so over time moved close to humans
• people who had dogs during hunt would have advantage
• migrating wolves (the ones following humans) give up their territory and less likely to provide with resident territorial wolves

Question 17

some shared features of humans and dogs/ wolf packs

Answer 17

• hierarchical order
• work cooperatively
• strong kinship
• suspicious of outsiders
• care for and protect young even if not theirs
• refined ability to interpret moods

Question 18

ability of dogs to read human gestures (2 examples)

Answer 18

left gaze bias: when humans meet new face eyes shift to left to settle on right side of face because right side better at expressing emotional state dogs do this to only when looking at humans

finger pointing

Question 19

dogs have ability to digest

Answer 19

starch; dogs have multiple (4-30) copies of a gene for amylase where as wolves only have 2

Question 20

extended eye contact between dogs and their humans increases

Answer 20

oxytocin in both

Question 21

paedomorphosis

Answer 21

retention of juvenile traits into adulthood

Question 22

pleiotropy

Answer 22

one gene affects several traits

Question 23

some phenotypes associated with domestication are similar to those seen in individuals with pathologies in

Answer 23

neural crest development

Question 24

role of sorcs1 gene

Answer 24

mutations in humans associated w behavioural disorders

Question 25

when animals are domesticated the selection processes that influence wild animals are removed or disrupted, such as:

Answer 25

• reduced fighting between males
• fewer males for females to choose between
• more reliable sources of food
• fewer predators

Question 26

does size differentiation in early dogs have anything to do with current dog breeds? why?

Answer 26

no

because the oldest modern dog breeds are only 500 yr olds and most are only 150 yrs old