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Only 40 Genes Separate Your Pet Dog From A Wolf
The Telegraph (UK) ^
| 11-22-2005
| Roger Highfield
Posted on 11/21/2005 6:18:45 PM PST by blam
Only 40 genes separate your pet dog from a wolf
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
(Filed: 22/11/2005)
The difference between an obedient, friendly dog and a big bad wolf could be down to as few as 40 genes, according to a study into tameness.
The research also found that to adapt to a life on the farm or in the home takes many more changes in gene activity than that required to love humans.
A Swedish team compared two groups of farm-raised silver foxes in Siberia, one where for 40 generations the foxes have been selected for their friendly nature, while the other was raised in the farm but not selected for tameness. The comparison was reported yesterday in the journal Current Biology by Dr Elena Jazin and colleagues at Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and the Norwegian University of Life Science.
In the tame foxes, they found surprisingly limited changes in gene activity in the brain compared with the non-selected silver foxes. Foxes have about 25,000 genes.
When compared with wild foxes both groups had 3,000 differences. There were a similar number of differences with dogs revealing that being friendly to humans takes far fewer genetic changes than being domesticated.
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 40; agriculture; animalhusbandry; dog; doggieping; dogs; genes; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; only; pet; seperate; siberia; wolf
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1
posted on
11/21/2005 6:18:46 PM PST
by
blam
To: blam
2
posted on
11/21/2005 6:19:44 PM PST
by
dynachrome
("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
To: blam
an obedient, friendly dog and a big bad wolf Both are better than cats.
3
posted on
11/21/2005 6:21:04 PM PST
by
peyton randolph
(Warning! It is illegal to fatwah a camel in all 50 states)
To: blam
I have 2 Huskies...
I wonder what the difference is there....probably less than 10 genes is my guess.....
4
posted on
11/21/2005 6:21:46 PM PST
by
MikefromOhio
(We (still) don't give a damn for the WHOLE state of Michigan.....)
To: blam
My family had a German Shepherd. We could physically see the wolf in his form. However, nurture (and pampering... and spoiling) created a 110 pound lap dog.
5
posted on
11/21/2005 6:22:22 PM PST
by
JAWs
To: blam
Say what?
6
posted on
11/21/2005 6:25:02 PM PST
by
kstewskis
("Thank you ladies and gentlemen, you've been a wonderful audience" ...Rocky Rhodes)
To: kstewskis
OK,
in his case,
mebby 80 genes ;)
7
posted on
11/21/2005 6:26:07 PM PST
by
najida
(Chocolate...it's what's for dinner.)
To: peyton randolph
Don't diss the Viking Kitties.
8
posted on
11/21/2005 6:26:39 PM PST
by
dynachrome
("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
To: blam
American Indian Dog. Bred from Wolf, Coyote and Domestics for appearance.
9
posted on
11/21/2005 6:27:53 PM PST
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: HairOfTheDog
10
posted on
11/21/2005 6:29:00 PM PST
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: blam
Well, 40 is alot more than separates us from chimps, IIRC.
11
posted on
11/21/2005 6:31:33 PM PST
by
Sam Cree
((absolute reality)- "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." Albert Einstein)
To: Sam Cree
Speak for yourself!
12
posted on
11/21/2005 6:33:36 PM PST
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: Sam Cree
Well, 40 is alot more than separates us from chimps, IIRC. How about Democrat?
13
posted on
11/21/2005 6:33:43 PM PST
by
Polybius
To: blam; Flyer; technochick99; sinkspur; annyokie; Scott from the Left Coast; 88keys; DugwayDuke; ...
14
posted on
11/21/2005 6:35:41 PM PST
by
HairOfTheDog
(Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
To: dynachrome
Next we'll hear that they have created a new species of fox.
To: Calpernia
Just something I read here on FR! True, though, I think.
16
posted on
11/21/2005 6:38:40 PM PST
by
Sam Cree
(absolute reality)- "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." Albert Einstein)
To: blam
Well in many case only one base pair change in one gene is congenitally lethal. So differences in 40 genes is not all that close.
17
posted on
11/21/2005 6:40:20 PM PST
by
rod1
To: Calpernia
The Dixie Dingo
Still living Wild in the bottom land swamps and forests of the Southeastern United States.
18
posted on
11/21/2005 6:42:28 PM PST
by
blam
To: blam
I think there are more genes than that which separate a DemocRat from a Conservative.
19
posted on
11/21/2005 6:43:00 PM PST
by
ZULU
(Fear the government which fears your guns. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
To: blam
Well 40 is actually a lot despite the fact that some dogs seems more wolf-like than others
20
posted on
11/21/2005 6:46:00 PM PST
by
apackof2
(I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American. Daniel Webster)
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