Published in Genome Research, this review by R. M. Buckley and E. Ostrander highlights how the domestic dog has become a powerful model system in mammalian biology. With over 350 closed breeds, dogs offer a unique population structure shaped by intensive selection for behavioral, morphological, and functional traits.
The field now benefits from nearly 3,000 publicly available high-coverage dog genomes, making canine genomic variation among the best characterized of any domestic species. As genome sequencing expands, previously inaccessible analyses—including rare variant detection and precise structural variant mapping—are becoming possible.
The authors summarize recent discoveries linking genetic variation to behavior, offering insights into fearfulness, sociability, working aptitude, and other traits shaped by both selection and breed history. They also review advances in identifying morphological genes underlying coat variation, body size, and craniofacial shape, as well as variants associated with disease susceptibility in specific breeds.
A key limitation of current genomic datasets is the challenge of variant interpretation, particularly in noncoding regions where regulatory functions are not yet fully understood. The review discusses tradeoffs between sequencing strategies—such as breadth versus depth—and highlights the growing importance of long-read sequencing for capturing structural variants that short-read methods miss.
Geographic analysis of canine genomic diversity reveals that Asia remains a major reservoir of unsequenced variation, emphasizing the need for broader sampling to complete the global picture of dog evolution and breed development.
The review concludes by examining advances in comparative genomics, which are improving annotation of the canine noncoding genome and enabling deeper investigation into the regulatory landscape that shapes dog biology.
Source: Buckley, R. M., & Ostrander, E. (2024). Large-scale genomic analysis of the domestic dog informs biological discovery. Genome Research. Published June 1, 2024. Research conducted within leading canine genomics programs in evolutionary biology and medical genetics.
