Back to the dogs. (Letters).Eskimos are reported to occasionally tie female Malamutes in heat out in the wilderness to be impregnated im·preg·nate tr.v. im·preg·nat·ed, im·preg·nat·ing, im·preg·nates 1. To make pregnant; inseminate. 2. To fertilize (an ovum, for example). 3. by wolves ("Three Dog Eves: Canine diaspora from East Asia East Asia A region of Asia coextensive with the Far East. East Asian adj. & n. to Americas," SN: 11/23/02, p. 324). This is supposed to keep their dog lines vigorous. The converse, male Malamutes impregnating female wolves, is not reported. If this process has happened widely in history, then there may have been three dog Eves in East Asia, but dog Adams may have come from everywhere and not show up in the mitochondrial DNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria. Most other DNA present in eukaryotic organisms is found in the cell nucleus. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA are thought to be of separate evolutionary origin, with the mtDNA being derived from the at all. BRUCE SANDERS, GREENCASTLE, IND. To conclude or suggest that Stone Age man domesticated do·mes·ti·cate tr.v. do·mes·ti·cat·ed, do·mes·ti·cat·ing, do·mes·ti·cates 1. To cause to feel comfortable at home; make domestic. 2. To adopt or make fit for domestic use or life. 3. a. wolves is, I believe, misleading. Wolves do not domesticate do·mes·ti·cate tr.v. do·mes·ti·cat·ed, do·mes·ti·cat·ing, do·mes·ti·cates 1. To cause to feel comfortable at home; make domestic. 2. To adopt or make fit for domestic use or life. 3. a. . They are one of the most autonomous and independent of animals, which is why you don't find a wolf act at the circus. It makes far more sense that the first wild and willing canids domesticated by man were already dogs and that they evolved from ancient wolves, or a common ancestor, well before any association with humans. There are still undomesticated dogs living in the wild today. STEVEN FEINBERG, POINT RICHMOND, CALIF. |
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