Wolf DNA in Dogs Is More Complex Than Originally Thought
Benjamin Pruss
BIOL-2110-001 GENETICS
Professor Guy F. Barbato
November 29th, 2025
In a recent study conducted by researchers from the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, it was discovered that modern dogs have more wolf DNA than originally thought. They studied the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of wolves and dogs from the Pleistocene to the present.
They found that, as one might expect, larger dogs bred for specific purposes, such as guard dogs, usually had the highest amount of wolf genes. There were a few exceptions to this, as dogs like the St. Bernard didn't have any wolf ancestry, while a small dog like the chihuahua did. They also found that dogs labeled as 'friendly' or 'easy to train' typically had fewer wolf genes, while those labeled as 'independent' or 'territorial' usually had more wolf genes.
"Dogs are our buddies, but apparently wolves have been a big part of shaping them into the companions we know and love today," said one of the authors of the study. Wolf genes have helped dogs live beside us for ages. For example, free-range dogs have adopted wolves' stronger olfactory sensor genes to find food in the towns and villages that they roam.
I wonder if this is just from selective breeding over time, and breeding together dogs that are more docile and have fewer wolf characteristics.
ReplyDeleteThis study is so interesting to me! I like how the findings connect certain behaviors and traits, like independence or scent-driven foraging, to specific wolf genetic influences. It’s a great reminder that even our most familiar companions still carry traces of their wild origins.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who used to have a lab, I find this really cool. Even though he was really friendly and was pretty easy to train, he definitely would have been a great hunting dog back in ancient times.
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