Genetic Links Between Dog Behavior and Human Friendliness
Research Overview
Researchers have conducted a study analyzing the DNA of dogs and wolves to explore whether mutations in a gene associated with friendly behavior in dogs are also linked to extreme friendliness in humans. Unlike wolves raised by humans, dogs exhibit a significantly higher level of friendliness towards people.
The Importance of Understanding Dog Domestication
Given the strong bond between dogs and humans, many scientists have sought to uncover the genetic changes that fundamentally alter dog behavior due to domestication. A prevailing hypothesis suggests that a crucial genetic transformation may have occurred during this process.
Williams-Beuren Syndrome and Its Connection to Canine Behavior
In humans, individuals with Williams-Beuren syndrome often display high levels of trust and friendliness. This observation raises the possibility that the same genes impacted by this syndrome may have also undergone evolutionary changes in dogs.
Study Methodology
Led by VonHoldt and colleagues, the study aimed to investigate whether the genes associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome in humans correlate with friendliness in dogs. The research, published in Science, involved analyzing the behavior of 18 dogs, including both purebreds and mixed breeds, along with 10 wolves raised by humans. The team sequenced DNA from the genes GTF21 and GTF21RD1, known to be involved in Williams-Beuren syndrome.
Findings on Dog and Wolf Behavior
The results indicated that dogs exhibited significantly more friendly behavior compared to the human-raised wolves. Additionally, the study revealed that dogs possessed a higher number of mutations disrupting gene activity in GTF21 and GTF21RD1 than their wolf counterparts. These genes are responsible for coding proteins that regulate other genes, and comparable disruptions in GTF21 functioning in mice result in social behaviors similar to those observed in dogs.
Implications for Understanding Behavior and Domestication
The study offers valuable insights into personality, behavior, and the process of domestication. As one of the first animals to be domesticated, the genetic factors influencing dogs’ friendliness are likely significant. One researcher referred to this phenomenon as “survival of the friendliest,” suggesting that, much like dogs, humans—who are inherently more social than other primates—may have experienced analogous genetic changes.
Reference
C. I. Villamil. What makes dogs so friendly? (Science). http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/07/what-makes-dogs-so-friendly-study-finds-genetic-link-super-outgoing-people