Flying Poodles

Dog genetics

A new article in Science, which is a scientific journal full of articles only gnurds like me would actually read, summarizes some recent research into dog genetics, specifically the genes that determine what kind of coat a dog has. You can read a relatively straightforward summary of the article here: Untangling Canine Coiffures.

Basically, what the article says is that one gene (FGF5) determines coat length, one gene (a gene for a hair protein called keratin) determines curly or wavy hair, and a gene called R-spondin-2 determines whether a dog has furnishings. (Furnishings, for those of who who do not follow purebred dogs that have furnishings, are things like eyebrows, mustaches, and beards. Think airedale.)

A bichon frise has long curly hair and a mustache–and has all three gene mutations. A lab has none of the mutations. One assumes, therefore, although the article does not say so, that a poodle also has all three mutations.