New discovery about the strange connection between humans and dogs

(Dan Tri) - New scientific discoveries are suggesting a completely different perspective on the relationship between humans and dogs.

There may have been a form of co-evolution between humans and dogs (Photo: Getty).

For millennia, humans have coexisted with dogs since the beginning of human settlement, sharing space, food, and daily activities. Some scholars even consider it a form of coevolution, where the two species developed compatible psychological and behavioral traits.

A new study conducted by a team of experts at the University of Cambridge (UK) has contributed to strengthening this opinion, when showing that humans and Golden Retriever dogs seem to share a genetic basis for certain behaviors, including responses related to emotions and social interactions.

Dogs have long demonstrated remarkable adaptations to living alongside humans, from their ability to eat starchy foods similar to the diets of ancient humans to their ability to understand gestures like pointing, something that even our closest relatives, chimpanzees, are less adept at.

In parallel, humans demonstrate the ability to interpret the meaning of dog calls and emotions intuitively, creating a rare two-way communication system between two completely different species.

However, in the context of modern stressful life, the incidence of stress-related problems in dogs is increasing, especially in highly urbanized countries such as the United States. This raises questions about the extent to which humans and dogs may share biological mechanisms related to mental health.

The Golden Retriever breed was the target of the study (Photo: Getty).

Recent studies have suggested autism-like symptoms in dogs, where scientists have identified genetic markers that are similar to some social disorders on the autism spectrum in humans.

In the new study, Professor Daniel Mills and colleagues analyzed the genetic code and behavior of 1,300 Golden Retriever dogs to identify genes associated with their behavioral traits.

They then compared the genes to their human counterparts, including those inherited from the same ancient evolutionary ancestors. The results revealed a total of 12 genes that appear to be linked to similar psychological functions between the two species.

Some genes show clear links to how emotional responses, such as non-social anxiety responses, are formed. A prime example is the ADD2 gene, which is linked to fear of strangers in dogs but to depression in humans. This is a disorder characterized by social withdrawal and avoidance.

This suggests that the same biological mechanism can manifest in different ways depending on the evolutionary and behavioral context of the species.

Not only that, some genetic links are found in complex cognitive processes that are considered characteristic of humans, such as the ability to self-reflect (the process of examining and reflecting on one's past thoughts, feelings, actions and words to find mistakes and areas for improvement - PV).

Scientists have found that humans and Golden Retrievers share a genetic basis for many types of behavior (Photo: Getty).

It is clear that dogs are not inherently capable of expressing their thoughts in abstract ways. However, they do differ in their sensitivity to unpleasant experiences, and this may have a common biological basis with humans.

For example, how trainable dogs are is linked to genes in humans that influence intelligence and the ability to recognize mistakes, two important factors in learning and behavior modification.

Associate Professor Eleanor Raffan, who led the research at the University of Cambridge, stressed that the findings provide “strong evidence that humans and Golden Retrievers share a genetic basis for a wide range of behaviours”, much of which is related to emotional states and behavioural responses.

While humans experience emotions through complex thought systems, this does not discount the validity of equivalent states in dogs, which may reflect mental health problems or distress.

The report's lead author, Enoch Alex, asserts that genetics plays a significant role in dog behavior, making some individuals more likely to perceive the world around them as threatening or unpredictable.

When life experiences exacerbate this trait, their behavior may be misinterpreted as “bad,” when in fact they are under emotional stress.

The study opens up new perspectives for the field of comparative psychiatry, and suggests that dogs could become important natural models for studying psychological disorders in humans.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/phat-hien-moi-ve-moi-lien-he-ky-la-giua-nguoi-va-cho-20251201080729129.htm