The melanocortin receptor-2 (MC2R) gene may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, allowing them to develop social cognitive skills and interact with humans, according to a study published in Scientific Reports on the 9th. . This gene is involved in the production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Changes in those genes that normally control hormones that affect social behavior are thought to have also been implicated in dog domestication, but it has not been precisely determined which genetic changes occurred.
This time, scientists from the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Azabu University in Japan used two tasks to investigate the social cognitive interactions of 624 domestic dogs. In the first task, the dogs needed to decide which bowl had food under, based on the experimenter's cues, such as staring, pointing, or tapping. This tests the dog's understanding of human gestures and expressions. In the second task, the dogs responded to a problem-solving test in which they attempted to open a container to obtain food. The frequency and length of time the dog looked at the experimenter was measured in this task, which reflects the dog's social attachment to the human.
The team divided the dogs in the experiment into two groups by breed: the ancient group (made up of breeds that are genetically closer to wolves, such as Akitas and Siberian huskies) and the general group (all other breeds that are more genetically distant from wolves). ). They reported that the ancient group visited the experimenter less during problem-solving tasks than the general group, meaning they were less attached to people. No significant breed-related differences were found in the first task.
The team then looked for differences in genes related to human-related cognitive abilities between the two groups, including oxytocin (OT), oxytocin receptor (OTR), MC2R, and a gene called WBSCR17, which is implicated in Williams in humans Syndrome (characterized by excessive social behavior). Two changes in the MC2R gene were associated with both correct comprehension of posture in the first task and more frequent viewing of the experimenter in the problem-solving task.
The team believes that these findings suggest that MC2R may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, resulting in lower stress levels in dogs around humans.
(Original title, "The Genetic Clues of Canine Friendship with Humans")
Changes in those genes that normally control hormones that affect social behavior are thought to have also been implicated in dog domestication, but it has not been precisely determined which genetic changes occurred.
This time, scientists from the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Azabu University in Japan used two tasks to investigate the social cognitive interactions of 624 domestic dogs. In the first task, the dogs needed to decide which bowl had food under, based on the experimenter's cues, such as staring, pointing, or tapping. This tests the dog's understanding of human gestures and expressions. In the second task, the dogs responded to a problem-solving test in which they attempted to open a container to obtain food. The frequency and length of time the dog looked at the experimenter was measured in this task, which reflects the dog's social attachment to the human.
The team divided the dogs in the experiment into two groups by breed: the ancient group (made up of breeds that are genetically closer to wolves, such as Akitas and Siberian huskies) and the general group (all other breeds that are more genetically distant from wolves). ). They reported that the ancient group visited the experimenter less during problem-solving tasks than the general group, meaning they were less attached to people. No significant breed-related differences were found in the first task.
The team then looked for differences in genes related to human-related cognitive abilities between the two groups, including oxytocin (OT), oxytocin receptor (OTR), MC2R, and a gene called WBSCR17, which is implicated in Williams in humans Syndrome (characterized by excessive social behavior). Two changes in the MC2R gene were associated with both correct comprehension of posture in the first task and more frequent viewing of the experimenter in the problem-solving task.
The team believes that these findings suggest that MC2R may have played a role in the domestication of dogs, resulting in lower stress levels in dogs around humans.
(Original title, "The Genetic Clues of Canine Friendship with Humans")
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