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Dark Wolves

Dog gene 'may aid wolf survival'

A gene for dark coat colour in wolves was introduced through mating with domestic dogs, scientists report. Ref. Source 7

Wolves Dark

I can see where the darker colors will help them blend in with the shadows and other darker regions of the forest. Having the lighter colors would work great in areas that have fewer trees.

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I am unsure but once interbred are they really wolves any more? If a species is desired to be pure how can it be cross bred?

Wolves Dark

I believe that since wolves and dogs come from the same ancestor they can interbreed. The fact that the offspring will not be full wolf is not a issue. As it breeds with other wolves its offspring become more and more back to basic pure wolf. It just adds other genes into play like the dark fur.

Wolves Dark

You are totally right KNtoran. Modern day dogs are descended from wolves, which is why they are referred to as 'Canis lupus familiaris' or 'Familiar or Domesticated Canines'. The genetic blend will not alter the wolves unless there is repeated breeding between the two species. Malamutes are an example of dogs being bred with wolves, creating a good natured domesticated wolf-like dog. (I had one).

The black colouring may in fact be just a genetic marker, simply telling the wolves that this animal is not a pure Grey Wolf. Genetic markers occur naturally in populations to visually allow others to detect a mutation that would otherwise confuse them. For example, crooked little fingers which we find in our own population can be a genetic marker for such conditions as 'narcolepsy' and certain syndromes.

I would be curious to learn of any follow-up research on the 'Dark Wolves' to see if they possess any other traits that would differentiate them from the pure Grey Wolves.

Edited: Tiphereth on 6th Feb, 2009 - 9:25pm

Dark Wolves

The key of this study is this...

I think that is up for debate, example of that is the pitbull.

Dark Wolves

From that perspective, it is interesting then that the wolves developed such a beneficial trait on the first go around. I was wrongly viewing the change as more of a genetic mutation, but the trait has arisen from cross breeding which is completely different.

Human's have indeed directly shaped the entire canine species, and we have been indirectly affecting the wolves for centuries. It is fitting that the species would gain a beneficial adaption to their environment and take it from our domesticated version the canine. I only hope it does not lessen their intelligence. Recent studies have revealed that what made the ancestors of the common dog trainable was because they had less intelligence, making them subservient.

'Dog people' would probably find this hard to accept, but true intelligence is not a measure of how trainable an animal is, but then again we commonly 'bench mark' intelligence by how much an animal can be human. Hopefully the wolves remain as they are and do not become dependent dogs.

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I feel that the wolf will remain a independent breed that will survive.

As far as dogs that we have domesticated and since then bred and crossbred to get the features we wanted is why we have such a diverse and largely different breeds.

I have a feeling that a lot of the dogs out there now will survive if humans ever suddenly left this planet.