Genetics and Dog Breeds

     

    Humans have placed artificial selective pressures on dogs for centuries. People have bred them for their temperament, size, and other physical features. These selections have made the dog breeds we know today. I chose an article written by Jill Adams that was published in Nature in 2008. The article highlights a variety of studies performed by researchers about the genetic factors involved in dog breeding. 

    Adams delves into the possible deleterious effects of dog breeding for specific physical characteristics. I found this to be particularly interesting because many brachycephalic dog breeds experience difficulties breathing. While the breathing difficulty is not a deleterious genetic defect, Adams mentions that some of the effects may not be known and that some have affected the mitochondrial genome in many dog breeds.