Unlocking the Genome of the Famed Sled Dog Balto
A team of researchers has recently sequenced the genome of the famous sled dog Balto, best known for his heroic delivery of life-saving medicine to an isolated Alaskan village in 1925. By sequenced Balto’s genome, the researchers were able to uncover genetic variants associated with his impressive abilities as a sled dog. In particular, the team identified genomic regions associated with traits like running speed, joint conformation, and coat color. In addition, they determined that Balto was a direct descendant of the Siberian Husky, the breed most often used in the Alaskan Iditarod race. This discovery demonstrates the power of genomic sequencing to uncover the genetic basis of a species’ traits and provide insight into the history of a species.
source: Phys.org