Thursday, December 08, 2005
Puppyblogging, Science Edition
Today's issue of Nature brings the first complete sequencing of the dog (Canis familiaris) genome. Dogs are not only cute and cuddly, but share many genetic similarities to humans and, more interestingly, are a great example of within-species diversity.
Boxers, Chihuahuas and Malamutes are very different characters, but they are the same species. You could, theoretically (or by artificial insemination) interbreed them to get ... a horror. Genome analysis can help us understand how they can be so different without speciating. That's pretty cool.
Boxers, Chihuahuas and Malamutes are very different characters, but they are the same species. You could, theoretically (or by artificial insemination) interbreed them to get ... a horror. Genome analysis can help us understand how they can be so different without speciating. That's pretty cool.
