GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2006-07 > 1153848688


From: Rebekah <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] NY Times article on genetics of tameness in animals
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:31:28 -0500
References: <008e01c6b00e$7fe829b0$6401a8c0@HP>
In-Reply-To: <008e01c6b00e$7fe829b0$6401a8c0@HP>


Here a a web site with pictures if you want to see.
http://stirlingcollies.com/_wsn/page18.html

I am a fan of sighthounds myself.:-)

Rebekah

Diana wrote:

>Domestication doesn't result in "smaller" skulls, it results in *shorter* skulls
>-- because the tooth row is shortened. Domestic animals, speaking here of dogs,
>tend to get domed skulls (a rounder calvarium) and a shorter muzzle, presumably
>because the selective pressure for having to kill their food is relaxed. There
>is also selective breeding pressure deliberately placed on them by humans.
>Humans find round heads (like babies heads) more pleasing, so we've created dog
>varieties with very short muzzles and domed heads. If you could see the nasal
>passages and dental deformations of dogs with flat faces, like bulldogs and
>pekinese, you would want to pass laws banning the creation of such hideous
>malformations. Now, a wild coyote's skull is a true thing of beauty. Long,
>sleek with a gorgeous set of well-spaced teeth on a muzzle that is twice the
>length of the calvarium.
>
>Diana
>
>
>

This thread: