The Evolution of Wolves into Dogs: An Ancient Journey
The ability to change the wild wolves into domestic dogs is one of the interesting aspects of the history of domestication.
This process, which is said to have taken thousands of years, shed more light on the relationship between man and the animals.
Genetic studies as well as the bits and pieces of the earliest fossils also offer a lot of insights into this evolutionary process, which is marked by natural selection, human interference, and environmental factors.
Early Beginnings: The Wolf-Human Connection
The interconnection of man with the wolf was established in the Paleolithic period, which is well over 20,000 years of age. It is worth mentioning that early human beings were still in the stage of living in the forests as hunters and gatherers; at the same time, wolves were also found in the vicinity.
The first contact realized between the two species was probably of reciprocal advantage as the two species benefited from each other. In this context, such carnivores as wolves, which are more active scavengers, could follow the humans to take advantage of the left-over food.
“Consequently, humans might have accepted to live side by side with wolves because of their special abilities, such as sharp smelling that acts as signals when there is an approaching danger or sharp hearing.
 Thus, over the years, these two have developed a very close relationship. Thus, it is apparent that those wolves that failed to be as aggressive and had more social tendencies were likely to remain close to the human groups for a longer time. These wolves had food and shelter available to them, and this in turn caused them to evolve gradually along with the aspects of their anatomy.
The Role of Natural and Artificial Selection
The domestication of the wolf, on the other hand, involved both what one can refer to as natural selection and artificial selection. Through the process of natural selection, those individuals that were least afraid of the presence of humans were the most likely to receive assistance and benefits from human beings. They evolved into these gentle and passive wolves that began to accept people’s presence in the nearby regions.
The second is artificial selection, which kicked in as soon as humans started selecting the wolves to breed for certain characteristics. People who were early in contact with wolves and thus in the beginning of the domestication process may have intentionally chosen wolves that they wanted to be tamed because of some of their qualities or physical appearance that in some way were desirable. These selected traits were further emphasized in the population to result in the emergence of early dog breeds.
Fossil Evidence: Clues from the Past
Wolves’ evolution has been inferred by ancient fossils as the link between wolves and dogs. The remains of the ancestors, which can be attributed to dogs, have been carbon dated up to around 14,000 years ago, although there are signs that this process made it even earlier.
One of them is the Bonn-Oberkassel archaeological site in Germany, where was discovered a fossil of the dog buried with people about 14200 years ago. This finding indicates that during this age, people had unique relationships with dogs. The fossil also revealed that some of the early humans buried their deceased animals, showing that they probably took the responsibility of taking care of these parasites, and this would also solidify the relationship between the two animals.
Genetic Insights: Tracing the Wolf-Dog Divergence
The genetic analysis has also proven very useful in regards to the wolf-dog split as follows:. Many researchers state the differences between wolves and modern dogs come from the same lineage, but it was 20,000 to 40,000 years when the two lineages diverged. This timeline corresponds to the time when humans started living in close proximity with wolves.
 371 Thus, low genetic variation of the dog to the modern breeds indicates that dog domestication process can have evolved several centers. Such evidence has been gathered from the find of numerous ancient dog fossils from different parts of the world; this is evidence to the actuality that it did not only happen in one region but in many regions of the world.
Conclusion: The Continuing Journey of Dogs and Humans
 It could thus be said that the genesis of dogs from wolves is one of the best examples that show how domestication has affected these animals. Starting from their prehistoric savages, who killed off the remainders of human settlements, wolves evolved into man’s best friends, protectors, and servants.
He used the fossils to give us an idea of some of the progression, but the story of dogs and men is not over yet. Today, the dog is much more than a pet; it is a living being that has a place among others; it is employed; it accompanies the man as a friend, helper, or security guard. The association of dogs and people, which has been developed throughout thousands of years, continues to be one of the strongest and most essential in the entire biosphere.
By ASH_CK
