Origin of Domestic Dogs in Light of Recent Genetic Data

The review is devoted to the problem of the origin of domestic dog according to recent analysis of DNA data, including consideration of versions of the possible ancestor(s) of the dog. An analysis of publications concerning fossils of dog-like canine with signs of domestication and the genetic differentiation of ancient and modern dogs suggests that domestication occurred in the Upper Paleolithic from Pleistocene wolves, most likely in East Asia. However, the polycentric hypothesis cannot be rejected at the level of modern knowledge either.