Domestic dog genetics

摘要

IT MAY seem surprising, given the huge diversity in size, shape and appearance of the domesticated dog {Canis familiaris), that it is only 15,000 years since mankind began domesticating wild wolves.The diversity of type is due to the selective breeding of dogs to produce physical and behavioural characteristics that suited their human owners, and resulted in the more than 350 distinct breeds seen today. However, this interbreeding, combined with transport around the globe, means that the origins of domestication are still a mystery, and we are still no nearer knowing which wolf populations were first used, or where in the world the first wolves were domesticated.