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Read TEXT  below and answer question.

TEXT: Dogs have been man’s best friend for 40,000 years: Humans tamed canine ancestors centuries earlier than first thought

(Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline and Ben Spenser for the Daily Mail)

  It was thought humans first tamed the ancestors of domestic dogs in the Ice Age, between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. But a new study has found our canine sidekicks have been our best friend for much longer.

  A team of Swedish scientists discovered a divergence in the species may have occurred up to 40,000 years ago based on the genetic analysis of an ancient wolf bone. To early humans, the first domesticated wolves were hunting companions, fighting animals and beasts of burden. As they bred the animals, selecting those that best met their needs, the domestic and wild breeds diverged, and the animals’ genetic code became less and less similar.

  Experts previously believed this divergence happened in the Mesolithic era – at a time when humans were transforming from hunters into farmers. But the new of research suggests the first domestic dogs may have dated back more than 20,000 years earlier, during the Late Stone Age.

  Scientists from Swedish Museum of Natural History analyzed the DNA of a canine bone discovered in the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia. They believe the bone, which has been radiocarbon dated to 35,000 years ago, belonged to a domesticated wolf – in effect one of the early dogs. Given the divergence between its DNA and wild wolves, they estimate its earliest domesticated ancestors could have lived 5,000 years before. And they say the animal represents the most recent common ancestor of modern wolves and dogs and could have been man’s best friend between 27,000 and 40,000 years ago.

  Study author Love Dalén, whose research is published in the journal Current Biology, said: ‘Dogs may have been domesticated much earlier than is generally believed. The only other explanation is that there was a major divergence between two wolf populations at that time, and one of these populations subsequently gave rise to all modern wolves.’ But he said this second explanation less likely, since it would require that the second wolf population subsequently became extinct in the wild.

  Co-author Pontus Skoglund, of Harvard Medical School in the US, added: ‘It is still possible that a population of wolves remained relatively untamed but tracked human groups to a large degree, for a long time.’

  The researchers made these discoveries based on a small piece of bone picked up during an expedition to the Taimyr Peninsula. When they radiocarbon dated the bone, they realized it was a 35,000 years old. The DNA evidence showed that modern-day Siberian Huskies and Greenland sled dogs share an unusually large number of genes with the ancient Taimyr wolf.

  Dr. Skoglund said: ‘The power of DNA can provide direct evidence that a Siberian Husky you see walking down the street shares ancestry with a wolf that roamed Northern Siberia 35,000 years ago. ‘To put that in perspective, this wolf lived just a few thousand years after Neanderthals disappeared from Europe and modern humans started populating Europe and Asia.’

(Disponível em: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article3091307/Dogs-man-s-best-friends-40-000-yearsHumans-tamed-canine-ancestors-centuries-earlierthought.html).

Read TEXT  below and answer question.

TEXT: Dogs have been man’s best friend for 40,000 years: Humans tamed canine ancestors centuries earlier than first thought

(Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline and Ben Spenser for the Daily Mail)

  It was thought humans first tamed the ancestors of domestic dogs in the Ice Age, between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. But a new study has found our canine sidekicks have been our best friend for much longer.

  A team of Swedish scientists discovered a divergence in the species may have occurred up to 40,000 years ago based on the genetic analysis of an ancient wolf bone. To early humans, the first domesticated wolves were hunting companions, fighting animals and beasts of burden. As they bred the animals, selecting those that best met their needs, the domestic and wild breeds diverged, and the animals’ genetic code became less and less similar.

  Experts previously believed this divergence happened in the Mesolithic era – at a time when humans were transforming from hunters into farmers. But the new of research suggests the first domestic dogs may have dated back more than 20,000 years earlier, during the Late Stone Age.

  Scientists from Swedish Museum of Natural History analyzed the DNA of a canine bone discovered in the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia. They believe the bone, which has been radiocarbon dated to 35,000 years ago, belonged to a domesticated wolf – in effect one of the early dogs. Given the divergence between its DNA and wild wolves, they estimate its earliest domesticated ancestors could have lived 5,000 years before. And they say the animal represents the most recent common ancestor of modern wolves and dogs and could have been man’s best friend between 27,000 and 40,000 years ago.

  Study author Love Dalén, whose research is published in the journal Current Biology, said: ‘Dogs may have been domesticated much earlier than is generally believed. The only other explanation is that there was a major divergence between two wolf populations at that time, and one of these populations subsequently gave rise to all modern wolves.’ But he said this second explanation less likely, since it would require that the second wolf population subsequently became extinct in the wild.

  Co-author Pontus Skoglund, of Harvard Medical School in the US, added: ‘It is still possible that a population of wolves remained relatively untamed but tracked human groups to a large degree, for a long time.’

  The researchers made these discoveries based on a small piece of bone picked up during an expedition to the Taimyr Peninsula. When they radiocarbon dated the bone, they realized it was a 35,000 years old. The DNA evidence showed that modern-day Siberian Huskies and Greenland sled dogs share an unusually large number of genes with the ancient Taimyr wolf.

  Dr. Skoglund said: ‘The power of DNA can provide direct evidence that a Siberian Husky you see walking down the street shares ancestry with a wolf that roamed Northern Siberia 35,000 years ago. ‘To put that in perspective, this wolf lived just a few thousand years after Neanderthals disappeared from Europe and modern humans started populating Europe and Asia.’

(Disponível em: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article3091307/Dogs-man-s-best-friends-40-000-yearsHumans-tamed-canine-ancestors-centuries-earlierthought.html).

Florida Confirms Local Zika Cases

July 29, 2016 − It’s here. The Zika virus, which causes grave birth defects and other brain and nerve
disorders, is being spread by mosquitoes in South Florida, officials said Friday.

Active transmission of Zika seems to be occurring in a small, 1-square-mile area just north of
downtown Miami, Florida Gov. Rick Scott told reporters. The four Zika cases under investigation in
[5] Miami-Dade and adjoining Broward County likely came from mosquitoes in the area, he said.

Three cases involve men, and one involves a woman. Scott did not say whether the woman is
pregnant. Zika prevention kits are being distributed in the affected areas, which include Miami’s
Wynwood neighborhood, an emerging arts district. Wynwood is also called “Little San Juan” because
of its high percentage of Puerto Rican residents.

[10] In a press call on Friday, CDC1 Director Tom Frieden, MD, said that, at present, the agency doesn’t
see a reason to advise people − including pregnant women − to stay away from the neighborhood.
Asked why the CDC is cautioning people not to travel to Zika-affected countries and territories, but
not to Florida, Frieden said transmission in Florida is not expected to be as explosive or widespread
as that seen in areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

[15]  Studies indicate Zika poses the biggest threat of birth defects when babies are infected during the
early weeks of pregnancy, when organs and tissues are still forming. And evidence is accumulating
that the virus can also cause a spectrum of brain and neurologic problems which may not be
immediately detectable. “We keep hearing that microcephaly is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Scott said people who live in the area and want to be tested for Zika should contact their local
[20] health department. He further urged pregnant women to contact their doctors. Still, public health
officials say the development is no reason to panic.

Since the Zika outbreak began last year, 64 countries have reported evidence of mosquito-borne
transmission, according to the WHO. In Brazil, the hardest-hit nation, more than 1,700 cases of a
Zika-linked birth defect called microcephaly have been confirmed in newborns.

[25] The Florida Department of Health has urged residents to protect themselves by draining any places
that could collect standing water inside or outside their homes. They further advised people to
wear protective clothing, including long pants and long sleeves, and to use EPA-approved insect
repellents and mosquito netting.

Adaptado de www.webmd.com

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Florida Confirms Local Zika Cases

July 29, 2016 − It’s here. The Zika virus, which causes grave birth defects and other brain and nerve
disorders, is being spread by mosquitoes in South Florida, officials said Friday.

Active transmission of Zika seems to be occurring in a small, 1-square-mile area just north of
downtown Miami, Florida Gov. Rick Scott told reporters. The four Zika cases under investigation in
[5] Miami-Dade and adjoining Broward County likely came from mosquitoes in the area, he said.

Three cases involve men, and one involves a woman. Scott did not say whether the woman is
pregnant. Zika prevention kits are being distributed in the affected areas, which include Miami’s
Wynwood neighborhood, an emerging arts district. Wynwood is also called “Little San Juan” because
of its high percentage of Puerto Rican residents.

[10] In a press call on Friday, CDC1 Director Tom Frieden, MD, said that, at present, the agency doesn’t
see a reason to advise people − including pregnant women − to stay away from the neighborhood.
Asked why the CDC is cautioning people not to travel to Zika-affected countries and territories, but
not to Florida, Frieden said transmission in Florida is not expected to be as explosive or widespread
as that seen in areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

[15]  Studies indicate Zika poses the biggest threat of birth defects when babies are infected during the
early weeks of pregnancy, when organs and tissues are still forming. And evidence is accumulating
that the virus can also cause a spectrum of brain and neurologic problems which may not be
immediately detectable. “We keep hearing that microcephaly is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Scott said people who live in the area and want to be tested for Zika should contact their local
[20] health department. He further urged pregnant women to contact their doctors. Still, public health
officials say the development is no reason to panic.

Since the Zika outbreak began last year, 64 countries have reported evidence of mosquito-borne
transmission, according to the WHO. In Brazil, the hardest-hit nation, more than 1,700 cases of a
Zika-linked birth defect called microcephaly have been confirmed in newborns.

[25] The Florida Department of Health has urged residents to protect themselves by draining any places
that could collect standing water inside or outside their homes. They further advised people to
wear protective clothing, including long pants and long sleeves, and to use EPA-approved insect
repellents and mosquito netting.

Adaptado de www.webmd.com

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Florida Confirms Local Zika Cases

July 29, 2016 − It’s here. The Zika virus, which causes grave birth defects and other brain and nerve
disorders, is being spread by mosquitoes in South Florida, officials said Friday.

Active transmission of Zika seems to be occurring in a small, 1-square-mile area just north of
downtown Miami, Florida Gov. Rick Scott told reporters. The four Zika cases under investigation in
[5] Miami-Dade and adjoining Broward County likely came from mosquitoes in the area, he said.

Three cases involve men, and one involves a woman. Scott did not say whether the woman is
pregnant. Zika prevention kits are being distributed in the affected areas, which include Miami’s
Wynwood neighborhood, an emerging arts district. Wynwood is also called “Little San Juan” because
of its high percentage of Puerto Rican residents.

[10] In a press call on Friday, CDC1 Director Tom Frieden, MD, said that, at present, the agency doesn’t
see a reason to advise people − including pregnant women − to stay away from the neighborhood.
Asked why the CDC is cautioning people not to travel to Zika-affected countries and territories, but
not to Florida, Frieden said transmission in Florida is not expected to be as explosive or widespread
as that seen in areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

[15]  Studies indicate Zika poses the biggest threat of birth defects when babies are infected during the
early weeks of pregnancy, when organs and tissues are still forming. And evidence is accumulating
that the virus can also cause a spectrum of brain and neurologic problems which may not be
immediately detectable. “We keep hearing that microcephaly is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Scott said people who live in the area and want to be tested for Zika should contact their local
[20] health department. He further urged pregnant women to contact their doctors. Still, public health
officials say the development is no reason to panic.

Since the Zika outbreak began last year, 64 countries have reported evidence of mosquito-borne
transmission, according to the WHO. In Brazil, the hardest-hit nation, more than 1,700 cases of a
Zika-linked birth defect called microcephaly have been confirmed in newborns.

[25] The Florida Department of Health has urged residents to protect themselves by draining any places
that could collect standing water inside or outside their homes. They further advised people to
wear protective clothing, including long pants and long sleeves, and to use EPA-approved insect
repellents and mosquito netting.

Adaptado de www.webmd.com

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Florida Confirms Local Zika Cases

July 29, 2016 − It’s here. The Zika virus, which causes grave birth defects and other brain and nerve
disorders, is being spread by mosquitoes in South Florida, officials said Friday.

Active transmission of Zika seems to be occurring in a small, 1-square-mile area just north of
downtown Miami, Florida Gov. Rick Scott told reporters. The four Zika cases under investigation in
[5] Miami-Dade and adjoining Broward County likely came from mosquitoes in the area, he said.

Three cases involve men, and one involves a woman. Scott did not say whether the woman is
pregnant. Zika prevention kits are being distributed in the affected areas, which include Miami’s
Wynwood neighborhood, an emerging arts district. Wynwood is also called “Little San Juan” because
of its high percentage of Puerto Rican residents.

[10] In a press call on Friday, CDC1 Director Tom Frieden, MD, said that, at present, the agency doesn’t
see a reason to advise people − including pregnant women − to stay away from the neighborhood.
Asked why the CDC is cautioning people not to travel to Zika-affected countries and territories, but
not to Florida, Frieden said transmission in Florida is not expected to be as explosive or widespread
as that seen in areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

[15]  Studies indicate Zika poses the biggest threat of birth defects when babies are infected during the
early weeks of pregnancy, when organs and tissues are still forming. And evidence is accumulating
that the virus can also cause a spectrum of brain and neurologic problems which may not be
immediately detectable. “We keep hearing that microcephaly is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Scott said people who live in the area and want to be tested for Zika should contact their local
[20] health department. He further urged pregnant women to contact their doctors. Still, public health
officials say the development is no reason to panic.

Since the Zika outbreak began last year, 64 countries have reported evidence of mosquito-borne
transmission, according to the WHO. In Brazil, the hardest-hit nation, more than 1,700 cases of a
Zika-linked birth defect called microcephaly have been confirmed in newborns.

[25] The Florida Department of Health has urged residents to protect themselves by draining any places
that could collect standing water inside or outside their homes. They further advised people to
wear protective clothing, including long pants and long sleeves, and to use EPA-approved insect
repellents and mosquito netting.

Adaptado de www.webmd.com

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention