2025-08-21 コペンハーゲン大学(UCPH)
Dog skeletons and fur decorations on historical anoraks are among the researchers’ sources of ancient DNA. Photo: Carsten Egevang
<関連情報>
- https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2025/08/sled-dog-dna-reveals-hidden-chapter-in-greenlands-history/
- https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu1990
グリーンランドのキミットの起源と多様性は、古代と現代のそり犬のゲノム解析により明らかにされた Origins and diversity of Greenland’s Qimmit revealed with genomes of ancient and modern sled dogs
T. R. Feuerborn, M. Appelt, K. Bougiouri, L. Bachmann, […] , and A. J. Hansen
Science Published:10 Jul 2025
Editor’s summary
Dogs have been an important part of human societies for thousands of years, and in Arctic regions, dogs adapted to extreme cold conditions have been essential for human survival. One such region is Greenland, where a native sled dog, the Qimmiq (plural Qimmit), has been a key part of the Inuit culture for hundreds of years. Feuerborn et al. sequenced the genomes of more than 90 Qimmit, revealing a history of localization and limited introgression of European dogs. These results reveal the distinct nature of this ancient dog breed and provide insight into their conservation in the face of a changing climate and modernization. —Sacha Vignieri
Abstract
The Qimmeq (Greenland sled dog) has worked continuously with the Inuit in Greenland for more than 800 years. However, they now face drastic population declines caused by climate change, urbanization, and competition from snowmobiles. This study sequenced 92 modern and ancient genomes to investigate how centuries of isolation shaped the regional Qimmeq populations and the impact of European contact. We found distinct regional populations and evidence for two migrations of dogs into Greenland with the Inuit from Canada. Furthermore, we found that there is minimal European ancestry in present day Qimmit and limited recent inbreeding despite low heterozygosity. These insights are critical for conservation efforts aimed at preserving the Qimmit amid environmental changes and cultural transitions.
