Two genetic mutations
have been discovered
that could have made the
dog
more
friend to man
: located in
the MC2R gene
(involved in the production of
the stress hormone
), they would have facilitated Fido's domestication by
improving
the cognitive abilities necessary to
communicate
and
interact
with humans.
This is suggested by a study published in the journal Scientific Reports by Azabu University in Japan.
The research was conducted on
624 domestic dogs of different breeds
, subjected to two separate tests.
In the first, aimed at evaluating their ability to interpret human communication, they had to guess under which overturned bowl the food was hidden based on the gestures and looks launched by the same researchers.
In the second test, however, the dogs had to solve a problem, that is to open a container: during the test the time they spent looking at the researchers was measured, a 'spy' of their attachment to humans.
The results show that dogs belonging to the breeds most genetically close to the wolf (such as
the Akita
and the
Siberian Husky
) spend
less time looking at humans
than other breeds considered further away from the wolf.
By examining the DNA, two mutations in the MC2R gene (for the
melanocortin 2 receptor)
emerged that were associated with the ability to correctly interpret human signals and the propensity to look at him more often.
According to the researchers, the MC2R gene may have played a crucial role in dog domestication, possibly
reducing stress levels in the presence of people
.