Wednesday, May 28, 2008

When is a Poodle not a Poodle?


When it is a German Shorthaired Pointer!

Mitochondrial DNA analysis has shown clearly the relationship between dogs and wolves; and we all know that dogs since the mid-19century have been classified according to their physical characteristics, historical records and their role in human activity (ie. are they used by humans as retrieval, herding or attack dogs), but microsatellite genotyping has uncovered some discrepancies in our classifications.

Microsatellite genotyping correctly assigned 99% of eighty five dog breeds into the correct category. The 1% variation involved the German Shorthaired Pointer being typed as a Standard Poodle and a Chihuahua as a Cairn Terrier.

So, does this mean that when you begin to breed from your registered German Shorthaired Pointer could you end up with a Poodle pup?

Thankfully, no! Because, despite German Shorthaired Pointers and Poodles having similar genes, they are expressed differently due to
different artificial and natural selection pressures. So any pup, of either a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Poodle, would be phenotypical of their breed.

While it makes no difference to our breeding program, microsatellite genotyping has revealed previously unrecognized connections among breeds, and this information can now be used as a basis to study disease susceptibility, behaviour and morphology.


Emma Dunning

Primary Source:

Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog

Secondary Source:

The Canine Genome

Phylogenetic Relationships, Evolution and Genetic Diversity in the Domestic Dog



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