Peter Savolainen received his Ph.D. degree in 1999 at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm at the Department of Biotechnology. It focused on development of techniques for analysis of mitochondrial DNA from minute DNA samples, and their use in forensic and population genetic studies, especially for studies of dogs and wolves.

After a post-doc period at the Max-Planck Institute in Leipzig, working on ancient human remains, he returned to KTH. His main scientific interest is population genetic studies of the origin and history of the domestic dog. Based on a unique sample collection from more than 3,000 dogs from around the world, and collaborations with research groups in, e.g., China and Australia, detailed information about the origin of the domestic dog and the Australian dingo have been obtained.

Click here to find a dokumentary on the origin of dogs, made by Nature. The genetic analysis of Peter Savolainen has placed the origins of domesticated dogs — and those of the first dog — in East Asia. Click here to find an interview on the subject with Peter Savolainen – Dogs that changed the world.

Related links

• Peter Savolainen at KTH
• Dogs that changed the world - Interview with Peter Savolainen
• Peter Savolainen at SciLifeLab