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Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
World's oldest domesticated dog breed has lived with humans for 1,000 years, new study shows — but their population is plummeting
It gives new meaning to dog years. Various types of sled dogs have been used by humans across the Arctic for almost 10,000 years, but new research reveals one particular type to be the oldest continuously domesticated breed. According to a new study published in Science, Qimmit have been kept by Inuit populations in Greenland for around a millennium, whereas other sled dog subsets have been bred out. 'They're a working dog that has been performing the same task with the same people for 1,000 years or more,' Tatiana Feuerborn, the lead study author and a paleogeneticist at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes for Health, told Popular Science. 'That's what sets them apart from other Arctic and sled dog breeds.' However, the population of the special animal has been steadily declining as a result of 'environmental changes and cultural transitions,' according to the study. There are even fears that Qimmit could become extinct. In 2002, there were about 25,000 in Greenland, but that number had plummeted to just 13,000 in 2020. The Science study delves into the genetic history of the Qimmeq. Other dog breeds that descended from a common ancestor include the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, Samoyed and Canadian Inuit dog. Similarly, these canines adapted to the harsh Arctic climate, but none have remained with the same population like the Qimmeq. The team of researchers studied 92 genomes, ranging from contemporary to ancient, to trace how far back the breed goes, and how its isolation in Greenland impacted its development, as opposed to other comparable Arctic dogs. 'We're not the first people to say this… but this is some of the first quantifiable evidence that really lends credence to it,' she added, clarifying the findings. Older DNA samples were taken from bones and fur embedded in preserved Inuit garments, which were borrowed from museums, while contemporary saliva swabs were graciously given to researchers by modern-day Qimmeq breeders in Greenland. Despite their lupine looks, the Qimmeq is less closely linked to wolves than previously suggested, researchers also uncovered. 'Qimmeq–wolf hybrids have been reported to form strong bonds with a single owner and often display aggression toward humans outside of their 'family,' killing dogs from outside their team,' the study reports. 'This highly territorial behavior makes it difficult to integrate them with new owners and unfamiliar animals.' While the study is certainly interesting food for thought for dog lovers across the world, it also provides insights into how to preserve the current Qimmit population, In many areas of Greenland, once-expansive ice sheets have become slushy seas, and researchers have marked billions of tons of ice loss in recent years. 'Dogs have been so intrinsically tied to human history as the first domesticated animal. They have been at the formation of every human society,' Feuerborn said. 'In Greenland in particular, these dogs have been there all along. Being able to preserve that cultural history alongside the genetic history is important. It has immense cultural value.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Oldest known dog breed reveals hidden human history
The Iditarod is the longest annual sled dog race– covering over 1,500 miles across Alaska. But there's another impressive, long-distance sled dog journey worth considering: their slow motion race through time. A close look into canine genetics reveals sled dogs have been around and on the move for thousands of years. Specifically, the Greenland sled dog–called Qimmeq (singular), or Qimmit (plural) in Greenlandic–has a history traceable all the way back 9,500 years to Zhokhov Island in Eastern Siberia. And they've been a distinct, isolated group for about 1,000 years of that time. They are among the oldest (and possibly the oldest) dog breed on Earth. In a new study published July 10 in the journal Science, paleogeneticists mapped the path of these culturally important canines from their ancient origin up to the present day. The findings reveal new insights into Greenland sled dogs' spread and movement over millennia and also the accompanying human history. The research could prove critical to preserving healthy sled dog populations far into the future. Throughout their long history, Qimmit have remained working dogs–still almost exclusively bred by mushers to pull sleds for transportation and to assist in hunts, Tatiana Feuerborn, lead study author and a paleogeneticist at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes for Health, tells Popular Science. 'They're a working dog that has been performing the same task with the same people for 1,000 years or more. That's what sets them apart from other Arctic and sled dog breeds,' Feuerborn adds. Alaskan huskies and malamutes, by comparison, are more intermixed with other types of dogs. And, now that these once-Arctic dogs are frequently bred as companion animals, rather than sled pullers, they're the byproducts of a different type of selection. Feuerborn and her co-authors dug into that distinctive history and sequenced 92 whole dog genomes, spanning from ancient times to the present day. Older samples came from museums, from bones collected at archaeological sites or fur preserved in traditional Inuit clothing. The 63 contemporary Qimmit genomes were provided by Greenlandic mushers who took cheek swaps and saliva from their own pups. The research team separated the DNA into three major groupings: pre-contact between the Inuit and Europeans, post-contact until 1998, and then post-1998 to present-day samples. Next, they compared the genome groupings to each other. They also contrasted their dataset with three other major sources: previously analyzed DNA from ancient samples like the Siberian Zhokhov dog and a 3,700-year-old dog from Teshepuk Lake in Alaska, other modern dogs from around the world, and outgroups like wolves and black-backed jackals. They found that Qimmeq genetics have remained remarkably consistent over time, going back to the earliest known sled dogs. From their Siberian origin point nearly 10,000 years ago, the scientists were able to trace Qimmeq movement with people across the Arctic ice into Alaska, then across the Canadian Arctic to the northwest of Greenland. Because of how similar Qimmit genomes are to Alaskan and Canadian dogs from thousands of years prior, the researchers infer that Inuit spread across the North American Arctic unfolded rapidly–in as little as one to two centuries–before the Greenland sled dogs became relatively isolated. Based on sled dog genetic markers, Feuerborn and her colleagues suggest the Inuit arrived in Greenland between 800 and 1,200 years ago. These dates are a few centuries earlier than most estimates, suggesting the Inuit got to Greenland sooner than previously thought, she says. 'We're not the first people to say this… but this is some of the first quantifiable evidence that really lends credence to it,' she notes. [ Related: Walrus DNA suggests meetings between Vikings and Indigenous Inuit. ] In the scope of archaeological time, a century or two may not seem like much, but it could shift the narrative around whether the Inuit or the Norse Vikings made their way to the land mass first, she notes. 'There's been this debate back and forth…so now this might push a little more towards the earlier arrival of the Inuit into the North,' she says The researchers then looked at various populations of Qimmit living in Greenland. They found the oldest dog genomes split cleanly into four groups: northern, western, eastern, and northeastern populations. The finding mirrors human DNA results and supports the idea that, since the peopling of Greenland, different Inuit groups had limited amounts of mixing, instead staying largely in their distinct regions and settlements. The direction of human development in Greenland has long been a question, with competing counterclockwise and clockwise theories. Tracing Qimmeq genetics indicates that both sides of the discussion have credence. Inuit movement in Greenland seems to have branched in both directions from the initial, northern settlement point, in two waves, per the study. The northeastern findings are especially notable because they confirm the existence of a pre-European-contact human community in that region. Previously, this group was only indicated by scant archaeological findings and they died out without leaving a clear historical record. The level of canine inbreeding, drops in genetic diversity, and estimated dog population size over time there, indicates that people in the area likely struggled with famine and couldn't maintain robust sled dog numbers, according to Feuerborn. Elsewhere, known historical events like well-documented famines, a canine distemper outbreak, and a rabies outbreak are also clearly reflected in the dog DNA. [ Related: Meet the former musher investigating sled dog genetics. ] One surprise came in the analyses of wolf gene markers within Qimmit. Surprisingly, despite many historical records of Greenlanders purposefully outbreeding their sled dogs with local wolves to boost pack health, there was little evidence that Qimmit are more closely linked to wolves than any other sled dog groups. 'We know in the recent era that these hybridization events have occurred,' Feuerborn says, so 'we were shocked' by the results. It's possible that, despite these purposeful outbreeding events, wolf genes don't persist in the sled dog population because they're not all that beneficial after all. Qimmit are under very strong selection to be good team players, willing to work with humans, strong endurance athletes, cold-tolerant, and to be able to subsist off a very specific all-meat and blubber diet. If they fail on any one count, they won't survive over the long term, she explains. 'If a wolf-dog hybrid can't perform well, they're not going to be maintained in the population.' But another possibility is that they just didn't have enough samples to parse out wolf influence in the sled dogs' genes. In any paleogenetic research, there's always the chance of inadvertent bias or missed connections because the sample pool is necessarily small. 'More samples from the regions of interest would potentially give us a different or a more nuanced answer,' notes Feuerborn. In total though, the research is an illuminating glimpse into Qimmeq history and important information for the dogs' future conservation. Modern technologies, lifestyle changes, and climate change have led to Qimmit population declines. In 2002, there were about 25,000 in Greenland. As of 2020, there were around 13,000. However, sled dogs retain an important cultural place in Greenlandic society, as living markers of heritage and history– as well as a critical practical role. Greenland's geology means that settlements around the landmass are still separated by vast, roadless expanses of land. In most cases, snowmobile or dog sled are the only means of overland travel between the various coastal enclaves. 'Unlike a snowmobile, sled dogs aren't going to break down and they're not going to run out of gas,' Feuerborn says. 'They definitely are the optimum resource,' for transportation and for hunting, she notes. After all, snowmobiles can't smell seals or polar bears, nor travel quietly enough to avoid scaring off potential prey. Preserving a healthy Qimmeq population requires an understanding of their current status, how much inbreeding is occurring, and what the minimum necessary numbers are for avoiding the spread of deleterious mutations. And so, despite declines, all signs seem positive. 'They're actually really healthy dogs,' says Feuerborn. She hopes her work helps them stay that way. 'Of course, conservation normally focuses on wild species,' she notes. 'But dogs have been so intrinsically tied to human history as the first domesticated animal. They have been at the formation of every human society. In Greenland in particular, these dogs have been there all along. Being able to preserve that cultural history alongside the genetic history is important. It has immense cultural value.'
New York Post
11-07-2025
- Science
- New York Post
World's oldest domesticated dog breed has cohabited with humans for 1,000 years, new study shows — but their population is plummeting
It gives new meaning to dog years. Various types of sled dogs have been used by humans across the Arctic for almost 10,000 years, but new research reveals one particular type to be the oldest continuously domesticated breed. According to a new study published in Science, Qimmit have been kept by Inuit populations in Greenland for around a millennium, whereas other sled dog subsets have been bred out. Advertisement 'They're a working dog that has been performing the same task with the same people for 1,000 years or more,' Tatiana Feuerborn, the lead study author and a paleogeneticist at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes for Health, told Popular Science. 'That's what sets them apart from other Arctic and sled dog breeds.' However, the population of the special animal has been steadily declining as a result of 'environmental changes and cultural transitions,' according to the study. There are even fears that Qimmit could become extinct. Advertisement In 2002, there were about 25,000 in Greenland, but that number had plummeted to just 13,000 in 2020. 3 Dogs bred to live in Arctic climates are especially known for their teamwork skills and long, fluffy coats. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images The Science study delves into the genetic history of the Qimmeq. Other dog breeds that descended from a common ancestor include the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, Samoyed and Canadian Inuit dog. Similarly, these canines adapted to the harsh Arctic climate, but none have remained with the same population like the Qimmeq. Advertisement The team of researchers studied 92 genomes, ranging from contemporary to ancient, to trace how far back the breed goes, and how its isolation in Greenland impacted its development, as opposed to other comparable Arctic dogs. 'We're not the first people to say this… but this is some of the first quantifiable evidence that really lends credence to it,' she added, clarifying the findings. Older DNA samples were taken from bones and fur embedded in preserved Inuit garments, which were borrowed from museums, while contemporary saliva swabs were graciously given to researchers by modern-day Qimmeq breeders in Greenland. 3 Even today, with the popularity of snowmobiles, sled dogs are utilized for their keen senses, endless energy and hunting instincts. REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Advertisement Despite their lupine looks, the Qimmeq is less closely linked to wolves than previously suggested, researchers also uncovered. 'Qimmeq–wolf hybrids have been reported to form strong bonds with a single owner and often display aggression toward humans outside of their 'family,' killing dogs from outside their team,' the study reports. 'This highly territorial behavior makes it difficult to integrate them with new owners and unfamiliar animals.' 3 This chart indicates specific gene flow across time. AAAS While the study is certainly interesting food for thought for dog lovers across the world, it also provides insights into how to preserve the current Qimmit population, In many areas of Greenland, once-expansive ice sheets have become slushy seas, and researchers have marked billions of tons of ice loss in recent years. 'Dogs have been so intrinsically tied to human history as the first domesticated animal. They have been at the formation of every human society,' Feuerborn said. 'In Greenland in particular, these dogs have been there all along. Being able to preserve that cultural history alongside the genetic history is important. It has immense cultural value.'
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
What is life? A little microbe raises big questions.
It's tiny and needy, but is it alive? That's a question prompted by recent research that highlights a surprisingly complex part of biology. The organism in question is a microbe called Sukunaarchaeum mirabile, discovered by researchers in Canada and Japan who were looking at the DNA of a species of marine plankton, according to a new paper published on bioRxiv. They've found it's unusually reliant on an alive host to survive, which could further blur the lines between cellular life and viruses — which generally considered to not be alive. The National Human Genome Research Institute describes viruses as existing "near the boundary between the living and the nonliving." Viruses can't function without interacting with a living cell. On their own, they're also essentially inert – unable to move – as a 2017 study notes. Enter Sukunaarchaeum mirabile, which could complicate things further. What is it? "This organism represents a totally new branch in the archaeal tree of life," lead researcher Takuro Nakayama of the University of Tsukuba told USA TODAY. (Archaea are microorganisms that define the limits of life on Earth.) "Sukunaarchaeum is not a virus, but a highly streamlined cellular organism," Nakayama said. According to the new study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, "the discovery of Sukunaarchaeum pushes the conventional boundaries of cellular life and highlights the vast unexplored biological novelty within microbial interactions." Named for a Japanese deity Named for a Japanese deity known for its tiny size, Sukunaarchaeum has one of the smallest genomes ever recorded: "Its genome is drastically reduced – less than half the size of the previously smallest known archaeal genome," Nakayama said. The authors in the study write that "its genome is profoundly stripped-down, lacking virtually all recognizable metabolic pathways, and primarily encoding the machinery for its replicative core: DNA replication, transcription, and translation." "This suggests an unprecedented level of metabolic dependence on a host, a condition that challenges the functional distinctions between minimal cellular life and viruses,' the study says. 'The tip of the iceberg' "Sukunaarchaeum could be just the tip of the iceberg, pointing to a hidden diversity of life forms with ultra-reduced genomes within the so-called 'microbial dark matter,'" Nakayama told USA TODAY. Indeed, the discovery of Sukunaarchaeum's bizarrely viruslike way of living 'challenges the boundaries between cellular life and viruses,' Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities who was not involved in the work, told Science magazine. 'This organism might be a fascinating living fossil – an evolutionary waypoint that managed to hang on.' The study concludes that "further exploration of symbiotic systems may reveal even more extraordinary life forms, reshaping our understanding of cellular evolution." What does 'life' mean to scientists? "I am not an expert on the philosophical definition of 'life," Nakayama said, adding that the definition is not uniform among scientists and is a subject of continuous debate. "Many scientists would agree that cellular structure, the ability to replicate, and the ability to metabolize are key features of life. Viruses typically lack these features," he said. "The discovery of Sukunaarchaeum is interesting in this context because it lacks one of those key features: metabolism. The existence of a cellular organism that seemingly lacks its own metabolism provides a new and important perspective to the ongoing discussion about the definition and minimal requirements of life." Contributing: Joel Shannon, USA TODAY
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- Science
- NZ Herald
Herding dogs: Genetic study reveals why they are smart, social and focused
Researchers, led by Hankyeol Jeong, discovered specific genetic changes in herding dogs, because of selective breeding, that contribute to their smarts, instincts, and fine motor skills. They conducted whole-genome sequencing of 12 herding breeds and 91 non-herding breeds to find these differences. They found that herding dogs have positive selection for educational attainment (which they equated with human-assisted problem-solving for dogs) and intelligence. Focusing further on border collies, they identified changes in eight genes related to memory, learning, social interaction, and spatial awareness. One gene, EPHB1, which is important for spatial memory, had many variations in herding dogs. In border collies, EPHB1 gave the breed a distinct haplotype associated with chase-bite motor patterns necessary in the dogs' specific line of work. Professor Matt Littlejohn is a Professor in Animal Genetics at Massey University. He said the research gave a glimpse into the reasons behind working dogs' skills. 'High-performance farm dogs show exceptional abilities that set them apart from the average pooch, and this study gives some insight into genetic factors that may contribute to that,' he said. Littlejohn said the study was significant because identifying genes underlying behavioural traits has been 'notoriously difficult' – both in dog and human genetics. However, he said the results would need to be validated. 'Breakthroughs in behavioural genetics have been hard-won because the traits are complex, so while the study highlights one gene in particular with a likely role in working behaviour, the next step will be to test the gene in bigger populations and confirm that role.' More about the study The research paper, Genomic evidence for behavioural adaptation of herding dogs, was published in Science Advances. The herding dog group consisted of seven Belgian sheepdogs, five Belgian Malinois, 11 Belgian Tervurens, five Bouvier des Flandres, 15 border collies, seven bearded collies, five Pembroke Welsh corgis, five Shetland sheepdogs, six Berger Picards, five Australian cattle dogs, 15 German shepherd dogs, and five Australian shepherds. Researchers looked for genes tied to phenotypic traits defined in a comprehensive database of human genome-wide association studies called the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog. The research was conducted by Hankyeol Jeong and Jaemin Kim, of Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea, and Elaine A. Ostrander, of the National Human Genome Research Institute, of the National Institiutes of Health, Bethesda, US. It was funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute and the Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea.
