The folks at PNAS have been biting their nails to the quick, anxiously awaiting the release of their groundbreaking news- Mutts are more genetically diverse than purebreds! The article had been under embargo until yesterday, forcing the researchers and journal editors to keep the valuable information under wraps. "I had a really hard time not telling my wife," admitted one of the journal editors, "I almost slipped up two times!"
As a precaution to prevent leaks to the media, the authors of the study have spent the last 10 days sequestered at an undisclosed hotel. Insider reports said they enjoyed the pool and the room service, but wondered why they weren't allowed to rent 'movies'.
When finally the day came, the press release rolled out and the authors returned to their homes amid a flurry of scientific admiration.
According to the study findings, dogs sampled from 318 villages in Egypt, Uganda, and Namibia had significantly different genetic diversity than non-native and mixed breed dogs, suggesting they are genetically distinct from other dog breeds. The results have thrown a long-accepted paradigm on its head. With the diversity of dogs that humans have been able to create through careful inbreeding, it has always been accepted that purebreds must be more genetically diverse than mutts.
Allow me to illustrate...
African village dog
Hamna shida
Purebred
I'm so diverse it hurts
African village dog
Nimefurahi
Purebred
Go ahead. Just admit you envy my family jewels and my genetically diverse junk.
Now, if you ask me, it doesn't take a fancy geneticist to figure out which group is more genetically diverse! I'm definitely not sold on these results.
In all probability, the release of these findings will cause a shock-wave through the scientific community and a spike in the number of grant applications for canine genetic studies. Or else, it will be the source of endless amusement and a cause for the authors to be demoted to technicians. Let's hope we get our real answer soon.
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On a slightly more worthwhile note, I'd like to mention a project that is making a difference. In 1994, there was an outbreak in Serengeti National Park that killed a third of the lion population- approximately 1,000 kitties! After some investigation, it was determined to be canine distemper virus, which was easily traced back to the dogs that live in the villages around the park. Now, you might think vaccines are aplenty in these villages, but you'd think wrong. There aren't even vaccines for humans, let alone for dogs.
So, a group representing several institutions came together and started building a program to vaccinate the dogs in the villages surrounding the park. The vaccine protects not only against canine distemper virus, but also against rabies and parvovirus. The program has been incredibly successful! When they have vaccination days, villagers come from miles away with dogs in hand (or bike) to participate.
I'm going to get my shots!
One of my favorite characteristics of this project is that it employs native Tanzanians. The collaborators are hoping to build the infrastructure so the Tanzanians can take over the program and continue it. Currently, the impact of the vaccination program is being evaluated for domestic and wild animals.
Learn more about it and the involvement of Lincoln Park Zoo here.
Comments
Goldendoodles are indeed an abomination
Posted by: Larry Prisonsex | August 7, 2009 10:45 AM
Wasn't the point of the article that diversity of African village dogs is as high as it is in Southeast Asian village dogs, thereby throwing into question the hypothesis that domestic dogs originated in Southeast Asia? The idea being that the genetic variability in a species (or sub-species, in this case) is usually close to the species' point of origin?
Posted by: R Simmon | August 7, 2009 10:58 AM
You totally busted me, R. But debates over the origin of dog domestication didn't make as good of fodder for sarcasm. Still, hats off to you!
Posted by: julia goolia | August 7, 2009 12:00 PM
It's only because I own (well, house and feed) a pair of New Guinea Singing Dogs (who look suspiciously like the puppy in the "Nimefurahi" photo), so I'm very interested in the origins of dogs. I find it fascinating that there's so little interest in finding out how dogs got domesticated, considering how important they are to us.
Posted by: R Simmon | August 7, 2009 5:23 PM
R. Simon. I have a vague recollection of a TV show on original type domesticated dogs. Part of it was about a lady who was breeding them. I think it was Bedouins who had primative dogs. She would visit them for stud service on her dogs. They would also give her puppies, etc. I think other unmanipulated types were discussed as well.
Posted by: Jim Thomerson | August 8, 2009 2:10 PM
The caption on the dog on bike photo is wrong. No dog is that calm and well-behaved if he knows he's about to get an injection.
Posted by: Marcia Earth | August 10, 2009 10:22 AM