Final answer:
Neil deGrasse Tyson's statement that "wolves domesticated humans" suggests a symbiotic evolution where wolves and humans mutually influenced each other during the domestication process, hinting at a co-evolutionary relationship that shaped both species.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Neil deGrasse Tyson refers to the notion that wolves domesticated humans 15,000 years ago, he's likely presenting a thought-provoking twist on the concept of domestication. Typically, we think of humans as the driving force behind the domestication of animals; however, Tyson's statement suggests that the relationship between humans and wolves (ancestors of modern dogs) was mutually transformative. Wolves, as social creatures with hierarchical social structures, would have been drawn to early human settlements where they might have scavenged food and over time, became accustomed to human presence. As these wolves adapted to human companionship and humans benefited from their abilities in guarding, protection, and hunting, a co-evolutionary relationship developed, influencing human behavior and social structures just as humans were influencing the wolves.
It's a reflection on the deep interconnectedness of humans and the dogs that evolved from those early wolves, and how each species might have adapted or domesticated to suit the needs and benefits of the other in a sort of reciprocal arrangement. This concept also touches upon the broader theme that human evolution and behavior have been shaped not only by our own actions but also through our relationships with other species, highlighting a more symbiotic view of domestication.