Artificial Selection in Dogs

Artificial selection by humans shapes dog diversity, stemming from wolves.

Evolution of Dogs: Five Key Criteria

Evolution from wolf to dog involves variation, inheritance, selection, time, and adaptation.

Variation

Dogs digest starch due to a gene duplication (AMY2B), unlike wolves.

Variation exists in AMY2B gene copies among dog breeds, affecting starch digestion.

Inheritance

Bully Whippets have a myostatin mutation causing increased muscle mass.

Genetic combinations of the myostatin mutation affect muscle development.

Selection

Humans selected dogs for traits like size (e.g., Great Danes vs. dachshunds).

Dachshunds' shorter legs were selected for hunting.

Directional selection shifts traits like leg length through breeding.

Time

Dogs evolved from wolves, branching off over time.

Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are a subspecies of wolf.

Adaptation

Dogs adapted for specific jobs (e.g., Irish Wolfhounds, Old English Sheepdogs).

Artificial selection drives adaptation to suit human needs.

Adaptation results from variation, inheritance, selection, time.