A HANDFUL of genes could mark the difference between highly strung chihuahuas and unflappable basset hounds. A comparison of 148 dog breeds has uncovered genes for size, lifespan, and even those linked to complex behaviours such as pointing and herding.
Genes for dog traits such as coat colour, ridged backs and the tendency to fall asleep have already been discovered, but the research has tended to focus on single breeds, comparing pooches with variations in a single trait – boxers with and without white spots, for example. This strategy does not work well for rooting out the genetic basis of…
