Scientists Decode Secrets of Dog Breeding - Page 1

The Great Dane lumbering down the street next to the Chihuahua in its owner's purse are clear examples of the extreme variety of looks that dog species — the most diverse-looking mammal in the world — can sport.

Scientists have long been curious to understand what changes in dog genes brought about by breeding resulted in the wide spectrum of body types, coat colors, fur and temperaments present in the more than 400 genetically distinct dog breeds today.

A new study has laid down the first pieces of this puzzle by sequencing large sections of genes from nearly 300 dogs belonging to 10 different breeds. Among the study's findings, detailed in Monday's issue of the