Dog breeds vary not only in overall body size, but also in leg length, head shape and many other body features, all of which are controlled at least in part at the genetic level. The amount of morphologic variation observed in the dog is reported to surpass that of all living land mammals.
Why do dogs have variations?
When the DNA of one dog breed has more bases in common with the DNA of another dog breed, it means they are more closely related. ... These reflect the areas that have changed in the centuries since people started breeding dogs for different traits, creating many different breeds of dog in the process.
What is responsible for the variation of dogs?
A national team that includes researchers from the National Human Genome Research Institute's Cancer Genetics Branch has found that a surprisingly simple genetic architecture underlies the great variation in domestic dogs.
What are the 7 classifications of dogs?
The American Kennel Club places dog breeds into groups based on their particular set of uses, purposes, and characteristics. There are seven major dog groups: Working, Herding, Toy, Hound, Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Terrier.
What pattern of evolution does dog represent?
The dog, Canis familiaris, is a direct descendent of the gray wolf, Canis lupus: In other words, dogs as we know them are domesticated wolves. Not only their behavior changed; domestic dogs are different in form from wolves, mainly smaller and with shorter muzzles and smaller teeth.
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