Limited genetic divergence between dog breeds from geographically isolated countries

Summers, K.M., Ogden, R., Clements, D., French, A.T., Gow, A.G., Powell, R., Corcoran, B., Mellanby, R.J. and Schoeman, J.P. (2014) Limited genetic divergence between dog breeds from geographically isolated countries. Veterinary Record, 175(22), 562. (doi: 10.1136/vr.102739) (PMID:25331973) (PMCID:PMC4283627)

Abstract

BREED specifications for pure-bred/pedigree dogs are laid down by the organisations that register and judge dogs, such as the Kennel Club of the UK (KCUK) and the Kennel Union of South Africa (KUSA), as well as the umbrella body the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). Reproductive isolation between breeds results because animals can only be registered as a specific breed if they have five previous generations of ancestors registered as the same breed, creating a ‘breed barrier’ which promotes genetic differences among breeds. This genetic isolation in a population of UK dogs (Mellanby and others 2013) has been demonstrated previously. The lowest heterozygosities of around 0.5 were found for breeds such as the German shepherd dog, rottweiler and boxer dog, indicative of a reasonably high level of inbreeding. Labrador retrievers and border collies had heterozygosities of around 0.7, indicating greater genetic diversity. The Jack Russell terrier is not a registered breed with the KCUK. This group had a heterozygosity of close to 0.8 and maintained a high degree of genetic variability.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: French, Professor Anne and Clements, Mr Dylan
• Authors: Summers, K.M., Ogden, R., Clements, D., French, A.T., Gow, A.G., Powell, R., Corcoran, B., Mellanby, R.J., and Schoeman, J.P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Veterinary Record
• Publisher: B M J Group
• ISSN: 0042-4900
• ISSN (Online): 2042-7670
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Veterinary Record 175(22):562
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License