gallusrostromegalus:babyanimalgifs:(via @paul_haine)You’re right, and genetics behind it is CO
gallusrostromegalus:babyanimalgifs:(via @paul_haine)You’re right, and genetics behind it is COOL.So nearly all short-legged dogs, like dachshunds, corgis and pekingese? they have the EXACT SAME mutation, a double copy of FG4F, which causes the ends of the bones in their legs to harden and stop growing sooner than normal. It looks like that mutation has occurred independently multiple times in the history of domestic dogs, and was selected for by humans because it’s cute. That means, it’s possible for WOLVES to have this kind of dwarfism too, though those individuals would not have lasted long in the wild.(It’s also possible that this exact mutation is the same as the one that causes the most common form of dwarfism in humans, but those studies are ongoing)Though the gene is easy to spread, it doesn’t necessarily pass on, and I know a few people with mixes that are essentially Tall Corgis. Still adorable.For the people wondering: the mutation isn’t inherently harmful to the dogs- you just have to be a bit more careful with diet and exercise, which you should be tailoring to your animal anyway. Some short-legged breeds have a history of health problems, but those more likely stem from long periods of inbreeding or selecting for smooshed faces. A well-bred corgi or corgi mix is going to be as healthy as any other dog.Here’s a cool article if you want to get into the science of it -- source link