The study, funded by the
The researchers found that the genomic differences among dog breeds are related to the development of their nervous system. For dogs that herd sheep, the genomic differences involve how brain nerve cells, known as neurons, organize themselves to form neural circuits during the early stages of development.
Some of the genes associated with the different dog lineages may relate to genes that are involved in behavior of other species such as humans. These results suggest that dogs and humans may have similar biological pathways that give rise to the range of differences in brain function and behavior found within a species.
The results of this study may point us toward how differences in the human genome can contribute to behavioral diversity among humans. Further research can help us draw a stronger link between genes that are important for behavior in dogs and genes that may play a role in human behavioral conditions,' said said
The study, led by
We identified 10 major canine lineages and behavioral traits that correlate with these lineages. By looking at the most heavily selected breeds, we can see how each lineage of dog breeds is unique in its genomic variation and behavior,' said
One of the most surprising findings was that many of the genomic changes that define the major dog lineages can also be found in modern wolves. This indicates that humans co-opted ancient variations among wild ancestors of dogs to create unique types of dogs suited for performing specific tasks,' said
For thousands of years, selective breeding has shaped dog breeds that are specialized for different tasks, including hunting, herding and guarding. For example, sheepdogs (such as border collies) instinctively know how to herd livestock with minimal training.
How different dog breeds have distinct behavioral traits and personalities - and how these characteristics trace back to their genomes - have been largely unknown until now.
The challenge was parsing out the massive collections of data. By repurposing tools used in studies that, for example, examine how stem cells develop into different specialized cells, the researchers reconstructed how canine lineages developed.
To study the genomic basis of breeds, researchers typically compare different breeds with different behavior. But the difficulty with that is finding meaningful results among the variation in dog behavior,' said
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