Dog Genome Project at NIH

Hey, German Shepherd fans, we've got something for you!

A new article published in PNAS this week provides a deep dive into the genetic history of GSDs and their use in wolf hybridization projects.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421755122

The Qimmeq (Greenland sled dog) has worked continuously with the Inuit in Greenland for more than 800 years. However, they now face drastic population declines caused by climate change, urbanization, and competition from snowmobiles. This study sequenced 92 modern and ancient genomes to investigate how centuries of isolation shaped the regional Qimmeq populations and the impact of European contact. We found distinct regional populations and evidence for two migrations of dogs into Greenland with the Inuit from Canada. Furthermore, we found that there is minimal European ancestry in present day Qimmit and limited recent inbreeding despite low heterozygosity. These insights are critical for conservation efforts aimed at preserving the Qimmit amid environmental changes and cultural transitions.

New research on the origins of the Greenland sled dog is now published in Science and available here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu1990

New publication alert!
Genomic reconstruction reveals impact of population management strategies on modern Galápagos dogs

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982224015069?via%3Dihub

Members of the NHGRI Dog Genome Project spent the day teaching our future scientists about dog genetics at NIH's DNA Day - Take Your Child To Work Day.