Page 96 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 9 6

The success of his studies on pea plants can be explained in retrospect by the following
factors: the restriction to a few, clearly distinguishable characteristics, the selection of
purely inherited strains, artificial pollination under protection from natural cross-
pollination and self-pollination, the large-scale series of experiments and the
statistical evaluation.

Today, pure heredity, genetic isolation and statistical evaluation are the tools that also

determine the rules of the standards of the FCI, founded in 1911, disbanded during WW2,
recreated in 1921 and other cynological organisations.

The uniformity rule applies to both the phenotype and the genotype, which is
heterozygous in all individuals of the F1 generation. With the splitting rule, the offspring

from this mating are no longer uniform among themselves, but split in both genotype and
phenotype. The independence rule or recombination rule describes the inheritance of
two traits (dihybrid inheritance) that are present at the same time, when crossing
homozygous individuals and their offspring. Both traits are inherited independently of
each other (hence the name of the rule), so that from the F2 generation onwards, new,
pure-bred combinations occur [65].

This is where we first encounter the terms “genotype”, the totality of the genes of an
organism, and “phenotype”, the appearance. It refers not only to morphological, but
also to physiological characteristics and, if applicable, to behavioural traits. The terms
gene, genotype and phenotype were established by the Danish geneticist Wilhelm L.
Johannsen in 1903 and characterized in 1909. So we can see here that the idea of

breeding with homozygous parents and offspring is an idea of recent history! [66].

It is therefore permissible to ask whether good behaviour is a question of selection.

Daumas (p 157):
“But that is not enough, the sighthound also accompanies its master when he visits; it is
given the same hospitable reception (difa) as the latter, and it receives its share of every

meal.

A Slougui only goes hunting with his master.

He shows his appreciation for the goodwill bestowed upon him by his cleanliness, decency
and graceful manners. ...”