Human Evolution: Episode 1 - How We Domesticated Dogs
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the ancient origins of dog domestication, tracing back 30,000 years to when humans first tamed wolves. It discusses various theories, including social selection and the campfire hypothesis, and highlights archaeological findings that reveal early human-dog relationships. The video also touches on the impact of artificial selection in shaping modern dog breeds and the profound bond between humans and dogs, showcasing their roles from hunting companions to cherished pets.
Takeaways
- 🐕 Dogs have been by humans' side for around 30,000 years, aiding in hunting and home protection.
- 🏺 Archaeological evidence suggests that dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans over 30,000 years ago.
- 🐺 Domestication may have started with wolves scavenging food from human settlements and humans providing shelter in return for help in hunting.
- 🧑🦳 Some experts believe that ancient humans consciously domesticated wolves by adopting and training their pups.
- 👶 Raising wolf pups at a very young age (around 13 days old) is easier for domestication as they haven't learned behaviors from their pack yet.
- 🤝 Domestication began with social selection, favoring dogs that were more social towards humans, leading to a stronger bond and increased survival rates.
- 📍 Ancient burial sites, such as one in the Czech Republic, show a deep connection between humans and dogs, indicating the dog's role beyond practical purposes.
- 🧬 Genetic divergence between dogs and their wolf ancestors occurred between 40,000 to 30,000 years ago, marking the beginning of domestication.
- 🌏 The location of dog domestication remains debated, with Eurasia being a likely region, including Central Asia, East Asia, and Western Europe.
- 🔍 Identifying the earliest dogs is challenging due to morphological similarities with wolves during the initial phases of domestication.
- 🐾 Theories on dog domestication include the campfire theory, migratory wolves theory, and food partitioning theory, each suggesting different scenarios for human-dog coexistence.
Q & A
How long have dogs been considered man's best friend?
-Dogs have been living alongside humans for roughly 30,000 years, assisting in hunting and protecting homes and families.
What is the archaeological evidence suggesting about the first animals domesticated by humans?
-Archaeological evidence suggests that dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans more than 30,000 years ago.
What is the campfire theory of dog domestication?
-The campfire theory posits that dog domestication began when wolves started scavenging food scraps from human camps and eventually became more closely associated with humans, providing defense and aiding in hunting.
What role did social selection play in the domestication of dogs?
-Social selection involved the process where dogs that were more social towards humans benefited more in terms of food and protection, leading to a stronger bond and making them more likely to survive and reproduce, thus passing on their social traits.
What is an example of an early burial site showing a connection between humans and dogs?
-A burial site in the Czech Republic contains a dog buried with a mammoth bone in its mouth, dating back 32,000 years, indicating a close relationship between humans and dogs.
What is the genetic divergence time frame between dogs' ancestors and modern wolves?
-The genetic divergence between dogs' ancestors and modern wolves occurred between forty and thirty thousand years ago.
What is the migratory wolves theory in relation to dog domestication?
-The migratory wolves theory suggests that some wolves followed migrating herds of reindeer and other large prey, and over time, these wolves began to form a cooperative relationship with humans, eventually leading to their domestication.
What is the food partitioning theory and how does it relate to the domestication of dogs?
-The food partitioning theory proposes that during times of scarcity, humans and wolves could have coexisted by partitioning resources, with wolves scavenging on protein-rich leftovers while humans focused on fat deposits, leading to a mutualistic relationship and domestication.
How did the domestication of dogs predate other significant human developments?
-The domestication of dogs predates agriculture, which only began around 11,000 years ago in the Holocene era, showing that the relationship between humans and dogs is one of the earliest forms of animal domestication.
What are some of the modern dog breeds that were developed for specific purposes?
-Examples of modern dog breeds developed for specific purposes include the Norwegian Lundehund for hunting puffins, the Saluki for hunting gazelles, and the Golden Retriever for retrieving small game.
What are some of the health issues resulting from selective breeding in certain dog breeds?
-Breeds like Pugs and Bulldogs have been selectively bred for certain physical traits, leading to health issues such as obstructive airway syndrome, breathing problems, skin infections, and various disorders related to their facial structure.
Outlines
🐕 The Origins of Domesticated Dogs
This paragraph delves into the history of canine domestication, suggesting that dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans around 30,000 years ago. It discusses the theory that domestication began when wolves started scavenging food scraps from humans, who then provided shelter and protection in return for hunting assistance. The paragraph also touches on the idea that ancient humans may have consciously domesticated wolves by adopting and training their pups. Archaeological evidence, such as a dog buried with a mammoth bone and a disabled dog buried with humans, indicates a deep connection between humans and dogs from early times. The domestication process is thought to have started with social selection, favoring more sociable dogs, and later influenced by artificial selection due to human preferences.
🔍 Unraveling the Mystery of Dog Domestication
The second paragraph explores various theories and evidence regarding the domestication of dogs. It mentions that dogs are believed to have descended from an extinct type of wolf, not the modern gray wolf as previously thought. The paragraph discusses the difficulty in identifying the earliest dogs due to their morphological similarities with wolves during the initial phases of domestication. It also presents theories such as the campfire theory, which suggests that domestication began when early dogs scavenged carcasses left by hunters, and the migratory wolves theory, which proposes that some wolves followed migrating herds and eventually formed a cooperative relationship with humans. The paragraph highlights the ongoing debate among geneticists and archaeologists about the timing and location of dog domestication, with suggestions that it may have occurred simultaneously in different geographical locations.
🌏 Geographical and Cultural Impacts on Dog Breeds
This paragraph examines how different cultures have influenced the development of various dog breeds for specific purposes. It describes how dogs have been bred for hunting, herding, and as companions, with examples such as the Norwegian Lundehund for hunting puffins, the Saluki for hunting gazelles, and the Golden Retriever for retrieving small game. The paragraph also discusses the modern use of dogs in practical roles such as guide dogs, police work, search and rescue, and herding, as well as the darker side of breeding dogs purely for aesthetic reasons, which has led to health issues due to selective breeding. The paragraph emphasizes the strong bond between humans and dogs, with examples of dogs protecting their owners and vice versa.
🐾 The Evolutionary and Ethical Considerations of Dog Breeding
The final paragraph reflects on the evolutionary and ethical implications of dog breeding. It contrasts the physical capabilities and mental skills of modern dog breeds with their ancient counterparts, noting that many breeds would struggle to survive in the wild due to selective breeding. The paragraph also criticizes the practice of breeding dogs for fashion and appearance, leading to health problems and a reduced life expectancy. It concludes by emphasizing the unconditional love and loyalty of dogs to humans, reinforcing the idea that dogs are indeed man's best friend, and invites viewers to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and suggesting topics for future videos.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Domestication
💡Hunter-gatherers
💡Social selection
💡Artificial selection
💡Archaeological evidence
💡Genetic divergence
💡Co-evolutionary process
💡Campfire Theory
💡Migratory wolves Theory
💡Food partitioning Theory
💡Selective breeding
Highlights
Dogs have been alongside humans for roughly 30,000 years, aiding in hunting and home protection.
Archaeological evidence suggests dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans over 30,000 years ago.
Domestication may have begun with wolves scavenging food scraps from humans, leading to a mutualistic relationship.
Some experts propose that ancient humans consciously domesticated wolves by adopting and training their pups.
Domestication involved social selection, favoring dogs more social towards humans for survival and reproduction.
Ancient dog burial sites, such as one in the Czech Republic, indicate a deep human-dog connection dating back 32,000 years.
Dogs played significant roles in ancient civilizations, like Anubis in Egypt, symbolizing the afterlife.
Genetic divergence between dogs' ancestors and modern wolves occurred 40,000 to 30,000 years ago, marking the start of domestication.
Domestication of dogs predates agriculture and involved long-term association with hunter-gatherers.
The location of dog domestication remains debated, with Eurasia being a plausible region.
Studies indicate domestication may have occurred simultaneously in different geographical locations.
Dogs are descended from an extinct type of wolf, not the modern gray wolf, as previously thought.
Identifying the earliest dogs is challenging due to similarities with wolves in the early stages of domestication.
Animal domestication is a co-evolutionary process, with dogs potentially influencing early human history.
Genetic studies suggest domestication commenced over 25,000 years ago with wolf populations in Europe, the Arctic, or Eastern Asia.
The campfire theory proposes that dogs were domesticated as they were attracted to human campfires and began to assist in hunting.
The migratory wolves theory suggests that some wolves followed reindeer herds and cooperated with humans, leading to domestication.
The food partitioning theory posits that dogs and humans did not compete for food, allowing for domestication.
Dogs have been bred for various purposes by different cultures, from hunting to herding and even as pets.
Selective breeding for looks has led to health issues in some breeds, such as Pugs and Bulldogs.
The bond between humans and dogs is so strong that it has led to instances of mutual sacrifice and protection.
Transcripts
[Music]
videos
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
dogs are often referred to as man's best
friend for roughly 30 000 years dogs
have lived alongside us helping us hunt
and also protect our homes and family in
this video we'll take a look at how when
and why dogs were domesticated by humans
please enjoy
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
foreign
there is archaeological evidence that
dogs were the first animals domesticated
by humans more than 30 000 years ago
some people may argue goats are the
first domestication supposedly began
when wolves started Scavenging food
scraps from humans who then began to
domesticate the Wolves providing them
with shelter and protection
in return the Wolves helped the
hunter-gatherers with hunting large prey
some experts studying the evolution of
modern dogs believe that domestication
was a conscious effort of humans the
theory was that ancient people took wolf
puts from their dads adopted them fed
them and trained them
this is based on the behavior of modern
walls it's extremely difficult to tame a
modern wolf past the age of 19 days as
they have already began picking up new
habits from their pack and their mother
raising a pup that is at Max 13 days old
however is possible and much easier as
the pup hasn't opened its eyes and
hasn't observed the behavior of its
parents or pack dog's domestication
began with social selection which means
that dogs who are more social towards
humans benefited more than those that
were more introverted and wary despite
them both living alongside humans
the more social dog would benefit from
more food and protection from the human
tribe as they would develop a bond this
ultimately means that the more social
dog is more likely to survive and
reproduce making future populations more
social and friendly towards humans later
in the timeline of domestication dogs
were influenced by artificial selection
which was down to human influence we'll
talk about this more later in the video
at a burial site in Czech Republic a dog
was discovered buried with a bone from a
mammoth placed in its mouth after death
It is believed to be 32 000 years old
in Germany the skeleton of a disabled
dog was buried with the bodies of a man
and a woman Regio calm and dating puts
this at 14 300 years ago
this is a unique early example of the
developing connection between humans and
dogs Beyond using dogs for practical
purposes only
other early dog burial sites were
discovered in many other places the
moment Black Dog of tamat in Russia is
thought to be 12 450 years old
and in Israel there are 12 individuals
Buried one with their hands resting on
the body of a small puppy dating back at
least twelve thousand years ago
from at least six thousand years ago
dogs are a part of many leading
civilizations Anubis in Egypt shallot
for the Mayans and Cerberus in ancient
Greece
their role was either to accompany the
deceased people to the other world or to
guard the other world
the genetic Divergence between the dog's
ancestors and modern wolves occurred
between forty and thirty thousand years
ago just before or during the last
glacial maximum it's important to note
that this was the beginning of
domestication not the completion one of
the most important traditions in human
history was the domestication of animals
which began with the long-term
association between humans and
hunter-gatherers more than 30 000 years
ago
the dog was the first species and the
only large carnivore to have been
domesticated Predators we see kept as
pets today like tigers lions bears and
even chimps are not domesticated
the domestication of dogs predates
Agriculture and it's not until 11 000
years ago in the Holocene era the people
living in the near East entered into
relationships with wild populations of
boar sheep and goats
where the domestication of dogs took
place remains debated however evidence
suggests that dogs were domesticated in
Eurasia with the most plausible
proposals being Central Asia East Asia
and Western Europe
[Music]
the oldest known skeletons are found in
the altai mountains in Serbia and a cave
in Belgium dated 33 000 years ago
according to studies this may indicate
the domestication of dogs occurred
simultaneously in different geographical
locations
for a long time scientists assume that
dogs evolved from the modern gray wolf
but a study published in 2014 concluded
that this was incorrect and that dogs
are descended from an extinct type of
wolf the first dogs were certainly
wolf-like however the changes that
coincided with the dog wolf genetic
Divergent are not known identifying the
earliest dogs is very difficult because
the key morphological characteristics
that are used by Zoo archaeologists to
different treat domestic dogs from their
werewolf ancestors size and position of
teeth and the size and proportion of the
cranial and post-cranial elements were
not yet set during the initial phases of
the domestication process so early dogs
and wolves look very similar
if the earliest dogs followed humans
scamming on carcasses they left behind
then early selection may have favored a
wolf-like morphology
perhaps when humans started staying in
one location longer and building larger
camps dogs became closely associated
with them making selection favor a
smaller and more distinct dog
animal domestication is a
co-evolutionary process
the earlier Association of dogs with
humans may have allowed dogs of a
profound influence on the course of
early human history and the development
of civilization
the question of when and where dogs were
first domesticated the stress
geneticists and archaeologists for
decades
genetic Studies have suggested a
domestication process commencing over 25
000 years ago in one or several wolf
populations in either Europe the high
Arctic or Eastern Asia
there is clear evidence that dogs were
derived from gray walls during the
initial phases of domestication the wolf
populations that were involved are
likely to be extinct
despite numerous genetic studies of both
modern dogs and ancient dog remains
there is no firm consensus regarding
either the timing or location of
domestication the number of world
populations that were involved all the
long-term effects that domestication has
had on the dog's genome
humans and walls both exist in complex
social groups how humans and wolves got
together remains unknown
domestication is a process that is
difficult to Define
the tomb was developed by
anthropologists with a human-centric
view in which humans took wild animals
and bred them to be domestic usually in
order to provide improved food or
materials for human consumption
that too may not be appropriate for a
large carnivore such as the dog this
alternate view regards dogs as being
either socialized and able to live among
humans or unsocialized there exists
today dogs that live with their human
families but are unsocialized and will
threaten strangers defensively and
aggressively no differently than a wild
wolf there also exists a number of cases
where wild wolves have approached people
in remote places attending to initiate
play or to form companionship
this view points towards the fact that
before there could be domestication of
the wolf there had to have been a
socialization
continuing on from the few theories I
mentioned earlier on in the video on how
dogs are actually domesticated there are
some more theories I would like to
discuss
one theory on how dogs were the best kid
by humans is the campfire Theory
ancient DNA supports the hypothesis that
dog domestication preceded the emergence
of Agriculture and was initiated close
to the Las colacial maximum when
hunter-gatherers preyed on megafauna and
when early dogs might have taken
advantage of carcasses left on site by
early hunters assisting in the capture
of prey or providing defense from large
competing Predators at kill sites
wolves were probably attracted to human
campfires while the smell of meat being
cooked first Loosely attaching
themselves and then considering these
part of their home territory where their
warning growls would alert humans to the
approach of Outsiders
the Wolves most likely drawn to human
camps with a less aggressive subdominant
pack members with lowered flight
response higher stress thresholds and
less wary around humans therefore making
them better candidates for domestication
this theory is supported by social
selection
the second theory is called the
migratory wolves Theory
on the Mama's step the Wolves ability to
hunt in packs to share risk fairly among
pact members and to cooperate move them
to the top of the food chain above lions
hyenas and bears
some wolves followed the great reindeer
herds eliminating the unfit the weak the
sick and the Aged and therefore
improving the herd
these walls have become the first
pastoralists hundreds and thousands of
years before humans also took this role
one study proposed that during the last
glacial maximum some of our ancestors
teamed up with those pasturless wolves
and learned some of their techniques
many of our ancestors remained gatherers
and scavengers or specialized as fish
Hunters hunter-gatherers and Hunter
gardeners however some ancestors adopted
the Wolves lifestyle as herd followers
and herders of reindeer horses and other
hoothed animals they harvested the best
stock for themselves while the Wolves
kept the herd strong and this group of
humans was to become the first herders
and this group of wolves the first dogs
[Music]
the remains of large carcasses left by
human hunter-gatherers may have led some
wolves into a migratory relationship
with humans this could have led to their
Divergence from those walls that
remained in one territory
a closer relationship between these
wolves or early dogs and humans may have
then developed such as hunting together
and mutual defense from other carnivores
and other humans
microsatellite assessment of two wolf
populations in North America combined
with satellite Telemetry data revealed
significant genetic and morphological
differences between one population that
migrated with and prayed upon caribou
and another territorial population that
remained in a burial Forest
though these two populations spend a
period of the year in the same place and
though there was evidence of gene flow
between them the difference in prey and
habitat specialization has been
sufficient to maintain genetic and even
coloration Divergence
a study has identified the remains of a
population of extinct pleistocene walls
with unique DNA signatures
the skull shape tooth wear and isotopic
signatures suggests that these were
specialist megafauna hunters and
scavengers that became extinct while
less specialized wolves survived
similar to the modern wolf that has
evolved to track and Prey Upon Caribou a
pleistocene wolf population could have
began following mobile hunter-gatherers
meaning they slowly acquire genetic
differences that would have Allied them
to more successfully adapt to Human
Habitat
the third theory is the food
partitioning Theory
dogs were the only animal to be
domesticated by mobile hunter-gatherers
humans and wolves were both persistent
pack Hunters of large prey and were
competing in overlapping territory and
are both capable of killing each other
one study proposes how humans may have
domesticated such a dangerous competitor
humans and wolves are members of the
large Carnival Guild and when there is
abundant game the Top members leave Cox
is for other members to scavenge
when game is scarce there is often
conflict humans are usually members of
this Guild because their ancestors were
primates therefore their ability to
process meat is limited by the capacity
of the liver to metabolize protein and
they can only derive 20 of their energy
requirements from protein high protein
consumption in humans can lead to
illness
during the harsh winters of the last
glacial maximum plant Foods would have
been less available and meat would have
not been the favored food but fat in
Greece would have as is prized by some
high latitude dwelling people in modern
times
and gamete would have been devoid of fat
but the limbs and crania contain fat
deposits and limb bones contain fatty
oils
there is evidence of such processing
during this period
wolves are typically carnivores and can
survive on this protein-based diet for
months
calculations of the lipid content of
Arctic and subarctic game available
across the cold step environment at this
time and today shows that in order to
gain the necessary quantity of fat and
oils there would have been enough excess
animal calories to feed you the early
dogs or wolves with no need for
competition hunting together and
protection from other Predators would
have been advantageous to both species
leading to domestication
foreign
dogs benefit humans
well 80 humans move from scavengen and
small game hunting to big game hunting
by living in larger socially more
complex groups learning to hunt in packs
and developing powers of cooperation and
negotiation in complex situations
as these are characteristics of wolves
dogs and humans it can be argued that
these behaviors were enhanced once
wolves and humans began to cohabit
communal hunting led to communal defense
wolves actively Patrol and defend their
scent Mark territory and perhaps humans
had their sense of territoriality
enhanced by Living With Wolves
one of the keys to recent human survival
has been the forming of Partnerships
strong bonds exist between same-sex
wolves dogs and humans and these bonds
are stronger than other same-sex animal
pairs
today the most widespread form of
inter-species bonding occurs between
humans and dogs in 2003 a study compared
to behavior and ethics of chimpanzees
wolves and humans
cooperation among chimps is limited to
the occasional hunting episode or the
persecution of a competitor for personal
Advantage which has to be tempered if
they were to become domesticated
one might therefore argue that the
closest approximation to human morality
that can be found in nature is that of
the gray wolf
s are amongst the most gregarious and
Cooperative animals on the planet and
their ability to cooperate in
well-organized groups to hunt prey carry
items too heavy for an individual and
babysit the packs young even when it is
on their own is only rivaled by that of
human society
similar forms of cooperation can be
observed in two closely related
candidates the African wild dog and the
Asian doll
therefore it is reasonable to assume
that Canada society and cooperation are
old traits that in terms of evolution
pre-date human society and cooperation
later into the human Reign dogs serve
different purposes as humans began to
gain more influence and control over the
world they discovered that they could
breed dogs to look and serve just how
they wanted them to
different cultures of people were
responsible for different breeds of dog
for example the Norwegian londerhund
which was bred in Norway to hunt puffins
all the Saluki that first appeared in
Egypt and was used to hunt gazelle or
maybe even the golden retriever a breed
that appeared more recently used to
retrieve small game mostly Birds the
hunters and Farmers had chopped down
more recently they are used as guide
dogs and sometimes used in the emergency
services to find and locate stranded
people
in modern times lots of dogs that were
used for practical purposes are now kept
as pets I personally have a Golden
Retriever named Iva although I don't
want him to retrieve small game for me I
wanted him to be my companion
accompanying me on Long hikes and walks
but also adding a wonderful nature to my
home
this is the relationship most people
have with dogs all around the world
but some people still use dogs for
practical purposes
German Shepherds Rottweilers Bloodhounds
and Labradors are all used in the police
force
famously Border Collies are used to herd
animals for farmers
and Siberian Huskies who use the sled
dogs work and impacts to pull resources
or even people on the backs of sleds
across the snow
on the darker side some dogs were bred
purely for looks and fashion and
unfortunately the result of this is a
mutated dog with low life expectancy and
constant health issues
take the Pug for example pugs are
various health issues due to selective
breeding influenced by humans they are
most likely to suffer from obstructive
Airway syndrome as well as an eye ear or
skin infection and various breathing
problems Bulldogs also have breathing
and skin problems as well as ear
diseases and eye disorders this is due
to both breeds having a small compact
face a no long snout look at other dogs
if we look at the ancient pug that dates
back to China we can see that the perk
had a longer snout like most other
healthy dogs the same can be said about
the ancient Bulldog species which had a
longer snout and a regular lean body
instead of a small stocky build with a
large compact head with no prominent
snout like other dogs we see today
this is called The Evolution which means
the species is evolving to become more
primitive and less successful
however this is only a concept as the
whole idea is based on if evolution has
a purpose and if it's Progressive
dogs are so evolved in human life that a
lot of modern breeds would fail to
survive in the wild as they lack
physical capabilities as well as the
mental skills and knowledge dogs have
had an enormous impact on our society
the bond between humans and dogs is so
strong that people have died to save
their own dogs and dogs have died to
save their owners dogs would risk their
life in a heartbeat to protect their
owners they love us unconditionally even
though they don't understand everything
about us they truly are man's best
friend
thanks for watching today's video If you
enjoyed and want to see similar content
then please like And subscribe also if
you have a suggestion for a future video
then please leave a comment
thank you
関連動画をさらに表示
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)