Ancient DNA reveals the origin and history of early dogs in northeastern China

Abstract

Research has suggested that domestic dogs may have undergone simultaneous domestication in both the eastern and western parts of the Eurasian continent. Alternatively, domestication may have originated in the eastern part of Eurasia and subsequently spread westwards. The northeastern region of China, which serves as a link between the expansive Eurasian steppe and the northern regions of China, is of paramount importance for investigating the origin and domestication of dogs. To establish a precise spatiotemporal framework for the genetic history of ancient dogs in China, this study conducted mitochondrial genome analysis on 110 samples obtained from five archaeological sites in the northeastern region of China, spanning from the Neolithic period to the Bronze Age. This study reveals the developmental history of domestic dogs in the Northeast region, emphasizing the close connections between domestic dogs in Northeast China approximately 10,000 to 7000 years ago and ancient domestic dogs from the Siberian Arctic and the Americas. Furthermore, around 6000 years ago, domestic dogs from the Yangtze and Yellow River basins in China gradually spread to Northeast China, leading to the replacement of the original domestic dog haplotypes. These findings provide new insights into the early spread and diffusion of domestic dogs, as well as the origin and domestication of ancient dogs in China, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon.