The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet
Abstract
The domestication of dogs was an important episode in the development of human civilization. The precise timing and location of this event is debated and little is known about the genetic changes that accompanied the transformation of ancient wolves into domestic dogs. Here we conduct whole-genome resequencing of dogs and wolves to identify 3.8 million genetic variants used to identify 36 genomic regions that probably represent targets for selection during dog domestication. Nineteen of these regions contain genes important in brain function, eight of which belong to nervous system development pathways and potentially underlie behavioural changes central to dog domestication. Ten genes with key roles in starch digestion and fat metabolism also show signals of selection. We identify candidate mutations in key genes and provide functional support for an increased starch digestion in dogs relative to wolves. Our results indicate that novel adaptations allowing the early ancestors of modern dogs to thrive on a diet rich in starch, relative to the carnivorous diet of wolves, constituted a crucial step in the early domestication of dogs.
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Scientists have discovered that rice (grain) is a constituting part of the dog's genomic signature, whereas wolves cannot digest a starch-rich diet.
“Scientists have discovered that rice (grain) is a constituting part of the dog ' s genomic signature, whereas wolves cannot digest a starch-rich diet.”
From The Dog-Eared Dictionary: Human-Animal Alliance in Chinese Civilization (2015) · cites this paper as Axelsson et al. 2013
The evolution of the canine into the omnivorous domestic dog was a slow adaptation to humans' diet.
“The evolution of the canine into the omnivorous domestic dog was a slow adaptation to humans ' diet (Axelsson et al. 2013).”
From The Dog-Eared Dictionary: Human-Animal Alliance in Chinese Civilization (2015) · cites this paper as Axelsson et al. 2013
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- Authors
- Axelsson, E., Ratnakumar, A., Arendt, M.-L., Maqbool, K., Webster, M. T., Perloski, M., Liberg, O., Arnemo, J. M., Hedhammar, Å., & Lindblad-Toh, K.
- Affiliations
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Broad Institute (US)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
- Science for Life Laboratory (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Axelsson, Erik
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2013-01-23
- Volume
- 495
- Issue
- 7441
- Pages
- 360-364
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2057998085
- Cited by
- 963
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 63 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 104 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 77 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 75 · 2016: 77 · 2015: 68 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 41
- FWCI
- 56.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
- Keywords
- dog domestication, wolf, positive selection, starch hydrolysis, fat metabolism, dietary adaptation, brain development genes, behavior change, scavenging, whole-genome resequencing, candidate mutations
- MeSH terms
- alpha-Glucosidases, Amylases, Animals, Animals, Domestic, Diet, Dogs, Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, Mutation, Starch, Genome, Wolves
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