Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: nudephil on 10/01/2020 14:00:16

Title: How do dogs compare genetically to wolves?
Post by: nudephil on 10/01/2020 14:00:16

Donald asks via the webform:

Since dogs evolved from wolves, how do they compare genetically? Do they have the same number of chromosomes? Do they share a high percentage of genes, or do they have exactly the same genes, but different variants of those same genes? How does this difference compare to the difference between humans and neanderthals?

Any insights? In Naked Genetics we covered a little of this. It's my understanding that they have the same number of chromosomes and share most genes.

Title: Re: How do dogs compare genetically to wolves?
Post by: chiralSPO on 10/01/2020 17:46:38

One thing I learned recently (who knows if it is true--I have provided some refs) is that dogs may be similar to wolves with a mutation associated with Williams Syndrome (which in humans typically results in friendly, outgoing, and trusting personalities, along with some minor learning disabilities and structural differences.

https://www.insidescience.org/news/rare-human-syndrome-may-explain-why-dogs-are-so-friendly
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700398

Title: Re: How do dogs compare genetically to wolves?
Post by: evan_au on 10/01/2020 21:56:05

Quote from: OP

do they have exactly the same genes, but different variants of those same genes?

Dogs have more copies of genes for processing carbohydrates than wolves, and variants that process this more efficiently.

The hypothesis is that wolves started hanging around humans, and scavenging on human garbage heaps. Those that could process human left-over carbs more efficiently thrived better than the rest.
See: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2013-jan-23-la-sci-how-dogs-evolved-20130124-story.html