dogs are omnivores - correction

[Guest guest]

Normally I don't correct every minute error I make in a post, but I think

this one calls for a correction. I erroneously wrote:

" That would be interesting to find dogs that are not actually descended

from grey wolves. Are you familiar with Wayne's work? His team did

the most extensive study on DNA of wolves and dogs and found that every

breed they tested (26 breeds, I think) was closely related to the wolf. In

fact the (average, I think) mtDNA difference was .02%! "

In fact Wayne and his team studied mtDNA samples from 140 dogs representing

67 breeds and samples from 162 wolves from various regions of the globe.

Regarding mtDNA differences, quote:

" The domestic dog is an extremely close relative of the gray wolf, differing

from it by at most 0.2% of mtDNA sequence15,22,23.

In comparrison, the gray wolf differs from its closest wild relative, the

coyote, by about 4% of mitochondrial DNA sequence14 "

For anyone interested in reading further on dog/wolf genetics, see:

Molecular evolution of the dog family

http://www.grapevine.net/~wolf2dog/wayne2.htm

Multiple and Ancient Origins of the Domestic Dog

http://www.grapevine.net/~wolf2dog/wayne1.htm

Evolutionary Biology The Origin of Dogs: Running With the Wolves

http://web.raex.com/~kitten/origin.htm

For those of you who have absolutely no interest in dogs, wolves and

genetics - sorry for the OT post!

Suze Fisher

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http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/

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