The remarkable diversity among dogs' coats--from the shaggy fur of a sheepdog to the sleek coat of a beagle, and everything in between--comes down to a mere three genes, according to a new report published in Science. The broad genetic study determined that one gene controls hair length and softness, another determines whether the hair is straight or curly, and a third
controls the pattern in which hair grows, so that dogs with a particular version have wiry hair and moustaches and long facial details known to breeders as “furnishings”.... The combinations in which these genes are inherited then determine a dog’s overall look [The Times].
To reach these conclusions, the researchers
first looked at the genetic differences within single breeds that have more than one coat type. Purebred dogs are particularly suited for this kind of study, Dr. Ostrander said, because they have been selectively bred to segregate traits ...
