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The Evolution of Dogs
Dogs are descendants of the wolf and are the closest living relatives of the wolf. The dog’s upturned tail, long body, and short legs make it easily distinguishable from the wolf. The domestic dog is the most popular pet in the world, and is often associated with hunting and family life. The evolution of the dog dates back at least 3 million years. Modern dogs are domesticated versions of their wild ancestor, the wolves.
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The Evolution of Dogs
Dogs are descendants of the wolf and are the closest living relatives of the wolf. The dog’s upturned tail, long body, and short legs make it easily distinguishable from the wolf. The domestic dog is the most popular pet in the world, and is often associated with hunting and family life. The evolution of the dog dates back at least 3 million years. Modern dogs are domesticated versions of their wild ancestor, the wolves.
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Historically, dog breeders have been involved in hunting, trapping, and sex, which are all important to a dog’s life. However, this has changed in recent years. Unlike earlier generations, dogs now aid search and rescue teams during natural disasters and other emergencies. They warn the rescue workers of hidden explosives, enemy threats, and enemy activities. They also help police in their investigations of murder victims and jail escapes. A few breeds are even trained to work with customs officers in searching for contraband. And some dogs lead the way in tracking poachers, inspecting cargo ships for rats, and exposing forest insect pests.
The high-quality draft sequence of the dog’s genome changed genetic studies. For many years, geneticists relied on candidate gene approaches, which involve guessing which genes are responsible for a trait or disease. While this approach can yield some excellent hypotheses, it can also be costly and time-consuming. In recent years, companion-animal geneticists have turned to more sophisticated genomic methods. For the first time, this type of data is available to help guide decisions about breed selection and breeding.