Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
07:59
Transition of Farm Pigs to Research Pigs using a Designated Checklist followed by Initiation of Clicker Training - a Refinement Initiative
Published on: August 21, 2021
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Top dogs: wolf domestication and wealth
Carlos A Driscoll1, David W Macdonald
1Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX135QL, UK.
Journal of Biology
|March 19, 2010
Summary
Small body size in dogs emerged in the Neolithic Middle East, linked to settled societies. This discovery may shed light on early human social structures and inequality.
Area of Science:
- Canine genetics
- Archaeogenetics
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Understanding the genetic basis of dog domestication and phenotypic evolution.
- Investigating the timeline and geographic origins of specific dog traits.
Observation:
- Phylogeographic analysis of dog gene sequences.
- Focus on genes influencing canine body size.
Findings:
- Small body size in dogs first appeared in the Neolithic Middle East.
- This correlates with the rise of sedentary human societies.
Implications:
- Suggests a link between early agriculture, settled lifestyles, and canine morphology.
- Potential insights into the origins of human social stratification and inequality.
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