Wednesday, April 19, 2017

A wild-born, pure Australian desert dingo has taken out first place in the World's Most Interesting Genome competition.


A wild-born, pure Australian desert dingo called Sandy Maliki has taken out first place in the World's Most Interesting Genome competition.  As a rare, wild-born pure dingo, Sandy provides a unique case study. Pure dingoes are an intermediate between wild wolves and domestic dogs, with a range of non-domesticated traits. Sequencing Sandy's genome will help pinpoint some of the genes for temperament and behavior that undergo the transition from wild animals to perfect pets. The dingo sequencing project will be the first to test Charles' Darwin's 1868 theory that the process of domestication can be divided into two steps: unconscious selection as a result of non-intentional human influences; and artificial selection as a result of breeding by humans for desired traits. The main point of the annual international PacBio competition is to raise public awareness of science and how genomic research can benefit society. 
Original article here
More information on Sandy

1 comment:

  1. That is amazing! A pure bread dingo probably acts much different than your typical dog but I assume it can not be that far from the same intellect level. I am curious to see the genes that are said to make a difference in the domestication of animals because I believe it is not just simple genome that make these differences true. Animals are capable of a lot when they are loved and as pets and I believe it also has to do with the way they are nurtured during their developmental stages. I know there are differences in the genomes, as they are different species but I am interested in knowing what they are and how they influence a wild vs domestic animal.

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