Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Forever Dog -- Dog breeds were created by human beings. The village dog created itself
National Geographic ^ | February 2012 | Evan Ratliff

Posted on 01/30/2012 7:20:14 PM PST by SunkenCiv

While a postdoc at Cornell University a few years ago, Adam Boyko became curious about the little-studied village vagrants. Though dogs were first domesticated 20,000 to 15,000 years ago, most breeds go back only a few hundred years. Perhaps village dog DNA might shed light on the long, early history of domestication, when canines were hanging around humans yet not under our domain. But how to get samples?

As it happened, around the same time Boyko's brother Ryan had married, and he and wife Corin were looking for a cheap honeymoon off the beaten track. The three Boykos decided to merge their two quests. Adam -- now at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine -- obtained a grant, then enlisted Ryan and Corin to spend their honeymoon traveling around Egypt, Uganda, and Namibia, befriending villagers and local vets. They collected DNA from more than 300 village dogs...

The Boykos continue to expand their sample collection, with another expedition planned for Africa. And they've also begun using the same techniques to solve a related mystery: the strange disappearance of native dogs in South America. We know from the historical record that Native Americans had dogs. But previous population surveys in the Americas turned up only dogs with European heritage. "How do you ship so many dogs across the world that they completely replace the native dogs?" Boyko wonders, suspecting that in fact there may still be village dogs with native DNA in the remotest areas of the continent. So in August the three Boykos packed their bags and headed into the jungles of Peru, searching for the lost American dog.

(Excerpt) Read more at ngm.nationalgeographic.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: agriculture; animalhusbandry; dna; dogs; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: afraidfortherepublic

L

21 posted on 01/30/2012 8:21:44 PM PST by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Thanks for the pictures of the Carolina Dogs, I had read about them in the past and I think they are very interesting. I tend toward mixed breeds just because I think they tend to be a more natural dog. I had asked myself the same question as is posed in the article what happened to the native dogs which lead me to the Carolina Dogs, I would love to own one but I think I may be on my last two dogs because I would hate to leave a good dog without an owner.


22 posted on 01/30/2012 8:24:56 PM PST by dog breath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

23 posted on 01/30/2012 8:28:41 PM PST by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
But previous population surveys in the Americas turned up only dogs with European heritage.

I thought chihuahuas were American. They named a whole state after them in Mexico.

24 posted on 01/30/2012 8:29:33 PM PST by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tumblindice

I don’t think there’s any chance we’re 4.6 billion years old, there is zero scientific evidence to support that.

Also, once you go hound you don’t go back (coonhound for example). hehe


25 posted on 01/30/2012 8:31:38 PM PST by Bulwyf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ElkGroveDan

LOL! I almost spit my coke all over the computer!


26 posted on 01/30/2012 8:33:02 PM PST by Bulwyf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Bulwyf

“there is zero scientific evidence”

To the contrary, there are reams of scientific evidence supporting that date.

My favorite coon hound is the Walker treeing coon hound.
Beautiful animal and it will actually go up the tree.

So this coon hunter invites his city friend to go hunting. The friend hints that he has something special to show him.
They get the dogs ready, and the city man pulls a spider monkey out of the cab. The monkey has a little silver pistol in his hand.
The dogs tree a coon. The city man holds his friend back, and looses the monkey. The monkey scampers up the tree and `Bang’, a raccoon falls to the ground.

The coon man is flabbergasted. He demands to see it again. The dogs are agitated, but they tree another. Again, up the tree. But this time there’s a long silence.
The monkey slowly climbed down from the tree; the dogs seem to grin, as dogs do.
The monkey walked over to the lead dogs and shot them in the head, in fact, empties the magazine.

The coon man is furious. “What in the *#! does that little *+$! think he’s doing?!”
And the monkey man says, “I forgot to warn you. He can’t stand a liar.”


27 posted on 01/30/2012 8:59:02 PM PST by tumblindice ("ghetto masses" Cloward-Piven)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: ElkGroveDan

errrrrrrr=ooof=ooof.....squat....


28 posted on 01/30/2012 9:30:46 PM PST by rusureitflies? (OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD! There, I said it. Prove me wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

We’re a pit bull family, and I wonder if any other breed could put up with the rough play of my three boys. It’s also nice that we have no need to lock the front door.


29 posted on 01/30/2012 9:31:57 PM PST by SquarePants
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

That was sad!...but tail wagging ending!


30 posted on 01/30/2012 9:50:34 PM PST by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: All

I have a six month old Yorkie, name is Prissy, who wears a pink bow on top of her head. Put her in the car to go to drug store pick-up window with me. Lady in the window said I could have my medicine when I gave her my puppy. Everyone who sees her wants her. She is my constant companion (and she hates liberals).

She is a great guard dog except for one thing. She barks to tell me someone is at the door - but it it were a burglar, when he got in, she would kiss him.


31 posted on 01/30/2012 10:09:29 PM PST by Marcella (Newt will smash Hussein in debates. Newt needs money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

“Dog breeds were created by human beings”

Really...really doubtful, that is.


32 posted on 01/30/2012 10:18:53 PM PST by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless, indisputable clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Of dogs I know this- German Shepherds are very smart and make wonderful, family pets, unless you get one from all German bloodlines, which will lead to the discovery they were bred for East German prison camp security. Anyone needing such please email me ;) “Bloody stump” is part of our family lexicon.


33 posted on 01/30/2012 11:39:34 PM PST by pops88 (Geek chick over 50)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

Dogs probably domesticated humans. :’)


34 posted on 01/31/2012 4:20:28 AM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Photobucket Photobucket Too much eggnog.
35 posted on 01/31/2012 4:45:53 AM PST by Dusty Road
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Dusty Road
Bowser has two speeds.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
36 posted on 01/31/2012 4:51:52 AM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Bulwyf

Yeah, I love hounds, too.
I’ve had Boxers (short life expectancy), Airedales (love ‘em), Afghans (pretty dumb), an Australian Sheep Dog (smart, but bit my kid - not smart), and numerous mutts (love them, too).
But my favorite canine is the Rhodesian Ridgeback. I’ve had two. Lots to handle, but so well worth it.


37 posted on 01/31/2012 6:20:28 AM PST by BIV (typical white person)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: pops88

>German Shepherds are very smart and make wonderful, family pets, unless you get one from all German bloodlines, which will lead to the discovery they were bred for East German prison camp security.<

Not all German line GSD’s were bred for East German prison camp security.

Anyway, the Czech dogs have it all over DDR line dogs as far as that type working ability.


38 posted on 01/31/2012 6:36:02 AM PST by Darnright ("I don't trust liberals, I trust conservatives." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: pops88

Uh, not all German Shepherds were in East Germany. They were already the most popular dog in the world, with many branches in Europe alone, including West.


39 posted on 01/31/2012 6:48:26 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Bulwyf; tumblindice

I don’t think there’s any chance we’re 4.6 billion years old, there is zero scientific evidence to support that.

<><><><><>

The crevo wars on a dog thread? Love it.

Don’t think tumblindice suggested that we humans are 4.6 billion years old, but that the earth is 4.6 billion years old.

As long as the dog is not yappy and nasty, I love them all, with a special fondness for all things retriever, goldens, labrador, chesapeake bay - whatever.

Loved my beagle as well. Howlin’ at the moon.


40 posted on 01/31/2012 8:30:13 AM PST by dmz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson