Animals
Is it a dog or is it a wolf? 18,000-year-old frozen puppy leaves scientists baffled
Image: Love Dalén / Twitter
A pint-sized canine was recently unearthed in Siberia, almost perfectly preserved beneath the frosty surface. It’s believed to be around 18,000 years old, and it was only a puppy when it died. It presents scientists with a rare opportunity to study an ancient member of the canine family, but first, they have to answer one very important question: Is it a dog or a wolf?
That might seem like a trivial question, but it’s actually more complicated than you’d imagine. Normally it’s as easy as a simple DNA test, since scientists have a pretty good handle on the genetic makeup of domestic dogs compared to wolves. Early tests of this young specimen didn’t return conclusive results one way or the other.
Researchers have spent decades tracing the lineage of domestic dogs and believe Man’s Best Friend was domesticated sometime between around 19,000 to 30,000 years ago, give or take a couple thousand years. Researchers say that at 18,000 years old, this tiny pup might have even more complicated ancestry, perhaps a mix of wild and domesticated canines.
“It’s normally relatively easy to tell the difference between the two,” David Stanton of the Centre for Palaeogenetics explained in an interview with CNN. “We have a lot of data from it already, and with that amount of data, you’d expect to tell if it was one or the other. The fact that we can’t might suggest that it’s from a population that was ancestral to both — to dogs and wolves.”
At this point, very little is known about the animal aside from its age and the fact that it was male. It may still be possible to narrow down the dog’s origins, but it’s going to take a lot of additional work. The researchers are currently planning to dive into the puppy’s genome in the hopes of shedding some light on its family tree.
-
Animals2m ago
Close-υp of Aпthoпy Edwards’ Cυstom Lamborghiпi Urυs with Timberwolves-Themed.criss
-
Animals2h ago
SAO. “Pursuing the Untamed: Unveiling Thrilling Footage of a Wild Car Chase Between Wildlife and Adventurers in the Serengeti”.SAO
-
Animals2h ago
SZ “An act of human kindness gives a baby elephant a fresh start, a heartwarming gesture that sparks hope and renewal. ” SZ
-
Animals3h ago
“Fisherman Encounters Enormous 50-Ton Octopus Upon Opening Sea Door: A jаw-Dropping Discovery!”
-
Animals3h ago
An elegant horse that embodies a charming aura of sophistication
-
Animals6h ago
Jasoп Statham leads the beaυty iпto a battle of life aпd death at home.qυockhaпhtop1
-
Animals7h ago
MS “Rare Spectacle: ‘Queen of the Andes’—World’s Largest Bromeliad—Blooms Once in a Century” MS
-
Animals7h ago
SZ “Meet a biggest liger [lion+tiger] baby : Biggest cat in the world, so amazing (Video) ” SZ