The use of additional genetic markers, obtained through comparing genomes, is helping us understand the genetics behind domestication better. A recent article in BMC Biology, which studies the evolution of small size in dogs, shows how these methods can be used to study the origin and diversification of domestic dogs. However, we still need to understand the genetic mechanisms behind the different appearances of our beloved pet dogs.

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Read the full study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841097/

©Rodney L. Honeycutt