Re: News: Gene fragment controls size in dogs

On Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:16:58 -0600, FurPaw <furrealpawdog@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Difference Between Mutts and Jeffs? A Gene
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Published: April 6, 2007

<quote>
Scientists have just discovered which gene fragment controls the
size of dogs, the mammal with the greatest range in size: no
other species produces adults with 100-fold differences, like
that between a 2-pound Chihuahua and a 200-pound Newfoundland.

In a study to be published today in the journal Science,
researchers analyzed 3,241 purebreds from 143 breeds.
Genetically, the yapper arguing with your ankle is almost
identical to the drooling behemoth bred to hunt bears, except for
a tiny bit of DNA ? universally present in small breeds and
largely absent in big ones ? that suppresses the ?insulin-like
growth factor 1? gene.
</quote>
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/science/06dogs.html?ref=science

"Dog owners have unwittingly been selecting for it since the last ice
age. Dogs emerged from the wolf about 15,000 years ago, and as far
back as 10,000 years ago domesticated dogs as big as mastiffs and as
small as Jack Russells were trotting the earth."

But unwittingly?

I'm not so sure that's the right word to use here.

Breeders have long known that they were selecting for genes that
regulated size, color, etc.

It's what selective breeding is all about.

One gets what one *selects* for.

Size is a selection.

BYW, the IGF-1 gene is also thought to have an effect on aging, too.

Which might help to explain why small dogs generally live longer than
large ones.

--
Handsome Jack Morrison

Left-wing blogs get punked! Maroons.
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/007246.htm
Top Forecaster Blasts Gore on Global Warming!
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070407/D8OBK1DG0.html
So long! Ta-ta! Somewhere Winston's weeping.
http://www.farsnews.com/plarg.php?nn=M234959.jpg
More "crazy ***":
http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001412.html
Secretary of State Nancy Pelosi?s Muddle Diplomacy:
http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=1731
Washington Post Slams Pelosi - A "Shadow Presidency" (to be filed in the "Be careful what you wish for" category)
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=25022_Washington_Post_Slams_Pelosi_-_A_Shadow_Presidency&only
Another conspiracy theory for Sandman and Mel Shore to believe in!
http://maddox.xmission.com/
Way to go, Madame Speaker! Olmert denies peace message to Assad!
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879247562&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Your United Nations at work!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMEw0lZ3k_Y&eurl=
Gore's Global Warming Religion:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=19927
Researchers Question Validity Of A 'Global Temperature':
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070315101129.htm
Liberal eco-preeners: Do as we say, not as we do!
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1599714,00.html
Danish scientist: Global warming is a myth.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/danish_scientist_global_warming_is_a_myth/20070315-012154-7403r/
Scientists threatened with death for 'climate denial'!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/11/ngreen211.xml
The Great Global Warming Swindle - the video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4340135300469846467
.

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