Old wild wolves: ancient DNA survey unveils population dynamics in Late Pleistocene and Holocene Italian remains.

摘要: Background The contemporary Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) represents a case of morphological and genetic uniqueness. Today, wolves are also the only documented population to fall exclusively within mitochondrial haplogroup 2, which was most diffused across Eurasian North American during Late Pleistocene. However, dynamics leading such distinctiveness still debated. Methods In order shed light on ancient variability this origin its current diversity, we collected 19 Pleistocene-Holocene samples from northern Italy, analyzed at short portion hypervariable region 1 DNA, highly informative for dog phylogenetic analyses. Results Four out six detected haplotypes matched ones found in Europe Beringia, or modern European Chinese wolves, appeared closely related two currently wolves. haplotype Pleistocene with primitive sequences canine clade A. All these belonged 2. exception Holocene sample dated 3,250 years ago, affiliated 1. Discussion study describe specimens Italy so far, providing preliminary overview make-up that inhabited area last glacial maximum Middle Age period. Our results endorsed diversity carried by here showed strong continuity other same chronological Contrarily, greater similarity Asia, occurrence an allowed date back previous finding about presence area. Moreover, unexpected discovery 24,700-year-old carrying that, fragment obtained, falls A, could represent oldest evidence dog-rich clade. findings suggest complex deserve be further investigated based whole genome sequencing.