New findings from Hungarian and Swedish researchers reveal that dog breeds Modern breeds, more genetically distant from wolves, have relatively larger brains compared to ancient breeds that have existed for thousands of years.
Researchers have shown continued interest in the approximately four hundred known dog breeds, which have developed rapidly and exhibit remarkable diversity.
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These races have proven to be a treasure trove for scholars interested in understanding rapid changes within a species. Among the factors of interest is brain size, since the human brain is remarkably large relative to body size.
By comparing different dog breeds, scientists hope to gain insights that could help answer some of these questions. Check out the study!
Modern dogs have bigger brains
There is interest in determining whether there is a correlation between the brain size of a dog breed and the specific tasks for which they were bred. For example, there are questions about possible differences between lap dogs and hunting dogs in this regard.
In addition, we want to know whether brain size is influenced by life expectancy and the challenges involved in raising offspring.
It is well established that thinking and cognitive processes require a considerable amount of energy and maintaining a larger brain is metabolically costly.
However, more research is needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these issues and establish definitive correlations.
Biologist at the Center for Ecological Research in Hungary, László Zsolt Garamszegi, who seeks answers to evolution, has devoted his study to the evolution of brain size over time.
Their research revealed that the brains of domesticated animals can be up to twenty percent smaller compared to their wild ancestors.
This likely decrease is due to the more simplified lives of domesticated species compared to their wild counterparts.
In the protected environment provided by humans, there is no need to fear predators or actively forage for food.
Consequently, there is no need to maintain a large brain, which requires a lot of energy, and that energy released can be reallocated for other purposes, such as reproduction, which is of extreme importance for animals domesticated.
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The results published in magazine Evolution revealed that wolves have an average brain volume of 131 cm³, associated with an average body weight of 31 kg.
In contrast, dogs of similar weight categories have an average brain volume of about three-quarters of that amount, approximately 100 cm³.
This finding confirms that domestication also resulted in a reduction in brain size in dogs.
However, what surprised the researchers was the finding that the more genetically distant from wolves a breed of dog is, the larger its relative brain size.
Contrary to expectations, the original role of breeds, average litter size and life expectancy were not directly related to brain size.
These findings suggest that factors related to domestication and the complex social environment may be playing a significant role in the increase in brain size in dog breeds farther removed from wolves genetically.
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