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Wolves Became Dogs Through Human Partnership, Study Reveals

2/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Wolves may have transformed into dogs by choosing to live alongside humans for reliable food, according to a groundbreaking study. This self-domestication theory, backed by statistical modeling, reveals that over 15,000 years, natural selection favored wolves that bonded with humans and mated with those sharing their temperament. Dogs trace their lineage back to gray wolves, dating back 30,000 years.

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Story summary

Wolves may have transformed into dogs by choosing to live alongside humans for reliable food, according to a groundbreaking study. This self-domestication theory, backed by statistical modeling, reveals that over 15,000 years, natural selection favored wolves that bonded with humans and mated with those sharing their temperament. Dogs trace their lineage back to gray wolves, dating back 30,000 years.