為了發(fā)現(xiàn)造成狗的特定性狀的基因改變，科學(xué)家分析了10個品種共275只家養(yǎng)的狗的基因組,。在過去1.4萬年中狗的馴化帶來了400多種狗,，每一種都具有獨特的體格,、皮毛顏色以及性格,。此前的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)了帶來特定特性的基因，諸如達克斯犬的短腿,。
Joshua Akey及其同事分析了一系列品種的狗,，從而確定數(shù)個世紀(jì)的選擇性育種對于整個狗基因組的影響。這組作者掃描了將近300只狗的遺傳記錄,，包括小獵犬,、博德牧羊犬、杰克羅素梗犬,、沙皮犬以及標(biāo)準(zhǔn)貴婦犬,，并確定了選擇性育種如何影響了這些動物的基因組。這組作者發(fā)現(xiàn)了155個不同的遺傳位置可能在產(chǎn)生純種狗的獨特特性方面起到了作用,，并提出這些信息可能為找到產(chǎn)生特定品種形狀的基因提供線索,。例如，這組科學(xué)家提出不同版本的HAS2基因可能為沙皮犬帶來了它的獨特的褶皺或光滑的外皮,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
PNAS January 11, 2010, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0909918107
Tracking footprints of artificial selection in the dog genome
Joshua M. Akeya,1, Alison L. Ruheb, Dayna T. Akeya, Aaron K. Wongb, Caitlin F. Connellya, Jennifer Madeoya, Thomas J. Nicholasa and Mark W. Neffb,c,d,1
aDepartment of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195;
bCenter for Veterinary Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616;
cCenter for Canine Health and Performance, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004; and
dThe Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
The size, shape, and behavior of the modern domesticated dog has been sculpted by artificial selection for at least 14,000 years. The genetic substrates of selective breeding, however, remain largely unknown. Here, we describe a genome-wide scan for selection in 275 dogs from 10 phenotypically diverse breeds that were genotyped for over 21,000 autosomal SNPs. We identified 155 genomic regions that possess strong signatures of recent selection and contain candidate genes for phenotypes that vary most conspicuously among breeds, including size, coat color and texture, behavior, skeletal morphology, and physiology. In addition, we demonstrate a significant association between HAS2 and skin wrinkling in the Shar-Pei, and provide evidence that regulatory evolution has played a prominent role in the phenotypic diversification of modern dog breeds. Our results provide a first-generation map of selection in the dog, illustrate how such maps can rapidly inform the genetic basis of canine phenotypic variation, and provide a framework for delineating the mechanistic basis of how artificial selection promotes rapid and pronounced phenotypic evolution.
