How wolves evolved into man's best friend

Swedish scientists have identified a key piece of the canine evolutionary puzzle: The ability to process carbs

Believe it or not this cuddly pooch is actually a descendant of the big bad wolf!
(Image credit: ThinkStock/Comstock)

Implausible as it may seem, your harmless little maltipoo puppy descended from a fearsome line of bloodthirsty wolves. And thanks to a new discovery, scientists now have a better idea of how exactly that happened.

Comparing dog and wolf DNA, new research published in Nature suggests that dogs possess an evolved set of genes that help them more effectively break down carbs and starches than their ferocious, wild ancestors. It's why our cuddly pals are more likely to go for a dog biscuit than, well, our throats.

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Chris Gayomali is the science and technology editor for TheWeek.com. Previously, he was a tech reporter at TIME. His work has also appeared in Men's Journal, Esquire, and The Atlantic, among other places. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.