Dingo ancient DNA

In collaboration with researchers from the University of Adelaide and the Queensland University of Technology, we used ancient DNA to explore the genetic history of Australia's iconic dingo. In analyzing DNA from nine dingo specimens dating back as far as ~2,700 years we observe that the geographic population structure observed in modern dingoes across Australia was already present approximately 2,000 years ago, well before European colonization. A key conclusion is that modern dingoes inherit the vast majority of their genetic makeup from these ancient populations, challenging previous assumptions about widespread hybridization with domestic dogs introduced more recently. Furthermore, we uncovered evidence of a complex historical relationship between dingoes from coastal New South Wales and New Guinea singing dogs, suggesting ancient connections.

This discovery highlights the long-standing, independent history of dingoes in Australia and provides crucial information for their future conservation. Read more about our research here: 'Ancient genomes reveal over two thousand years of dingo population structure'.