A new study out Thursday comparing DNA from modern canines to ancient fossils suggests that today's pets descended from now-extinct populations of wolves in Europe. "All modern dogs have a very close relationship to ancient dogs or wolves from Europe," lead author Olaf Thalmann, a researcher at the University of Turku in Finland, told AFP. The team analyzed the mitochondrial DNA of 18 prehistoric canines — eight dogs and 10 wolves — and compared them to 77 mitochondrial genomes, showcasing traits inherited from the mother, from dogs from all over the world.
Modern dogs descended from European wolves: study
