Page 58 - The Sloughi Review - Issue 9

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 5 8

From top to bottom left: short hair, wire hair, wire hair with curls, long hair, long
hair with furnishing, curly, curly with furnishings
Second column: examples of breeds with such coats
3rd, 4th and 5th columns: genes involved and their mutations.
WT= wild type, Mut.= mutation
Genetic study of coat length and coat structure in domesticated dogs, E.Cadieu,
H.Parker, R.K.Wayne, E.A. Ostrander et al. 2009

Nevertheless, a broad study at the Broad So here again we see that the Sloughi, like

Institute in Harvard (with Robert Wayne on the Azawakh, are dogs of quite primitive
the team) on the genetic disposition of the ancestry, which should not be the case
coat structure found that some things can with the Salukis, at least the feathered
be said about it for dog breeding. Salukis, and the Afghans.

Bryan Sykes states: Bryan Sykes continues

.".. The study is particularly remarkable "... As long as pedigree dogs are bred, there
because the researchers were able to identify will be genetic problems due to inbreeding.
virtually all hair variations in all breeds by They can be contained, but never

examining combinations of just three genes. completely eliminated. But if the will is
... None of these three mutated genes was there, it can be controlled. In recent years,
found in the genome of three grey wolves - zoos have also started to face up to the
admittedly a very small sample - and just as negative consequences of inbreeding and,
little in short-haired dogs. This strongly in order to minimise the risks, have

suggests that the original dog was short- developed reproduction plans that also
haired and had neither furnishings nor curls." provide for a regular exchange of animals
(46). between zoos. ... If the genetic diversity
falls below a certain level, survival is

virtually impossible due to inbreeding
depression.