Gene Flow between Wolf and Shepherd Dog Populations in Georgia (Caucasus)

摘要: We studied the distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and microsatellite genotypes at 8 loci in 102 gray wolves, 57 livestock guarding dogs, 9 mongrel dogs from Georgia (Caucasus). Most had clustered with presumably East Asian dog lineages, most wolves European but 20% 37% shared same haplotypes. Bayesian inference STRUCTURE software suggested that more than 13% detectable ancestry 10% wolf ancestry. About 2-3% sampled were identified, a high probability, as first-generation hybrids. These results supported by relatedness analysis, which showed closest relatives an opposite group. The study suggest wolf-dog hybridization is common event areas where large are held traditional way, gene flow between was important force influencing pool for millennia since early domestication events. This process may have been terminated 1) outside natural range 2) very recent time, when humans started to tightly control contacts purebred dogs.