[scientizscht (OP)]

Hello

So, in the ancient times at some point, humans captured a wolf and they bred it and then they domesticated it to create dogs.

How does that work? How a wild species becomes domesticated? I assume there is a considerable DNA change to do that? How this happens?

[evan_au]

It is likely that dogs and humans started to get along with each other in a number of places around the world.
- That means that different genetic patterns would be present in dogs originating in different parts of the world

Apparently, the genetic difference between wolves and dogs is less than 1%
- but that statement is highly ambiguous
- I am sure that it doesn't mean 1% of base pairs are different
- It might mean that there are systematic differences seen across 1% of genes
- But it probably affects less than 1% of the base pairs in those 1% of genes

There is one specific gene associated with the amylase enzyme, which tends to be duplicated in domestic dogs compared to wolves. That would help dogs digest vegetable left-overs in the rubbish heaps around human settlements.
- This is not a new enzyme in domesticated dogs, but two copies of an existing gene

Floppy ears are more common in domestic dogs (like my daschund) than in wolves.

See: https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-018-0535-2

[alancalverd]

The canine genome is exceptionally plastic, such that chihuahas and alsatians are actually interfertile, and a combination of selective breeding and training can produce anything from a quadruped vegetable to a guide dog in a few generations.

It is possible that other species could be bred to domesticity but there doesn't seem to be much of a market - dogs have a convenient physique and intellect for a number of jobs, and descend from natural collaborators. Whilst we employ horses and elephants for work, the relationship is more exploitative than collaborative.

It would be interesting to exploit the problem solving abilities of octopuses if we needed to work in their environment, but right now I can't think of a suitable problem.

[scientizscht (OP)]

I am not sure what 'exceptionally plastic genome' means. Does it mean it is less controlled and more prone to mutations?

I still do not understand how can behavioural training get embedded into genes and passed to offsprings.

Were some wolves prone to domestication as they gathered the same (?) mutations independently in various areas? And how these domestication-prone wolves or wolves with amylase, altered their genes to basically engrave domestication traits into their genome?

[Bored chemist]

chihuahuas and alsatians are actually interfertile,

You would think that would get a mention
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)

Or do you mean that the chihuahua would need a stepladder?

I still do not understand how can behavioural training get embedded into genes and passed to offsprings.

It can't.
However, if you have a dog with, for example, a natural inclination to herd sheep- as prey- then you can breed in favour of that trait and get a sheepdog.
You don't select for trained traits you select for innate ones.

And how these domestication-prone wolves or wolves with amylase, altered their genes to basically engrave domestication traits into their genome?

They didn't.
But due to random variations, some were more inclined to be "the sort of dog we wanted" and those were the ones we bred from.

[alancalverd]

Perhaps I should have said "interfertile in principle" or even "in vitro", but unless you can think of a use for a pocket alsatian or a police chihuhua, we can ignore the practicalities. 

[jeffreyH]

An alpha animal is the one that scares the hell out of all the others. This aggression works to keep the species (wolf?) looking like a distinct species. In Russia they did an experiment with foxes. They only allowed the tamer foxes to breed. Within several generations they showed a greater variety in features. Different coloured fur and floppy ears for instance.

This must be the same for wolves. Otherwise we wouldn't have the variety of dogs we do today.

[Bored chemist]

but unless you can think of a use for a pocket alsatian or a police chihuhua

While breeding them might be a bit daft, the crossbreed may well be healthier than its parents.