Published results can be found here.

Study Start Date: 05/06/2008
Study End Date: 06/01/2010

Reconstructing the Evolution and Geographic Spread of Early Dogs

We aim to investigate the origin and geographic spread of early domesticated dogs by utilizing village/feral dog populations. The goals of this research are twofold: (1) use village dogs from the Middle East and southeast Asia, including mitochondrial matrilines and Y-chromosome patrilines, to re-assess the molecular evidence favoring the Southeast-Asian origins hypothesis of Savolainen et al. (2002), and (2) use village dogs from southeast Asia and along routes of the Austronesian expansion, including mtDNA and Y-chromosome patrilines, to test the hypothesis that modern dogs in these locations retain the genetic footprint of their initial introduction 6,000-1,000 BP.

Novel aspects of this project involve analyzing the Y chromosome in reference to the origin of dogs, and the use of village/feral dogs instead of purebred dogs. We hope that the use of village/feral dogs will allow us to obtain a signature of ancestral diversity.

Study Design:
Genetic Analysis (survey of diversity)

Inclusion Criteria:
Dog samples that are from "village"/feral dogs (i.e. not obvious mix of purebred dogs) in South-east Asia or the Middle East.

Exclusion Criteria:
Dog samples that are purebred or a mix of purebred dogs not from SE Asia or the Middle East.

Samples:
We will provide participants with sampling kits (buccal swabs) to collect cheek cells from dogs that do not have an apparent purebred or mix purebred descent. We are mainly in search of "village" dogs: dogs that are not necessarily owned, however hang around towns and villages (and do not appear as descendant of a purebred that escaped or became secondarily feral).

Costs/Reimbursements:
All expenses will be incurred by our laboratory (mailing of sampling supplies, sampling supplies themselves, and shipment back to our lab).

Full Disclosure information:

• The study is not yet funded.
• The investigators do not have any conflict of interest.
• The study will be published if results are negative.
• The study will be reported on VIN.
• The authors will acknowledge VIN if the study is published.