Origin of Dogs Traced

For quite some time, scientists and researchers have thought that dogs have descended from wolves most likely in the Middle East.

Researchers now have found that most dogs share a common gene pool, and genetic diversity is highest in East Asia, suggesting that dogs have been domesticated there the longest.

The researchers studied gene sequences from the dogs' mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited directly from the mother. The findings indicated that the major present-day dog populations at some point had a common origin from a single gene pool.  It looks as if 95% of current dogs come from just three original founding females.

Separate research from Harvard University and the Wolf Hollow Wolf Sanctuary studied behavior of modern day dogs and have concluded that dog's ability to interpret human social cues is inherited and not learned.  The study found that even 9 week old puppies can interpret cues better than our closest animal relatives, the chimpanzees.

Read the full BBC article, it's an interesting read.