A new study on canine genetics has been getting a lot of attention recently.  Do dogs living in modern North and South America retain the genes of the ancient dogs that accompanied the first Americans who came from Asia thousands of years ago?

A genetic study of the remains of ancient American dogs reveals that they were descended from the ancient dogs of Siberia (somewhat like today’s Arctic dogs such as Huskies and Malamutes) and not the native American wolf population.

These original dogs almost completely vanished after the arrival of European immigrants and their dogs in North and South America.  Only a tiny fragment of their genetic code lives on in modern American dogs…and you may be surprised to find out what it is.

Researchers have discovered that the closest surviving genetic link between these ancient dogs and modern dogs is the canine transmissible venereal tumor, which is a contagious cancer clone that can be traced to one individual dog that lived between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago!

You can learn more about this fascinating topic HERE.