I’m currently reading “Inside of A Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know,” by Alexandra Horowitz.
I just read a passage where in discussing dog breeds, the author talks of closed gene pools and how dogs have relatively closed gene pools. I think I understand what she means but I would really love a more layman or 5 year-old approach to this concept.
Is the opposite of a closed gene pool an open one? How can we see examples of these in dogs and humans?
If anyone wants to also explain this in a way of making cocktails or bartending that could very well be helpful to me also.
Thank you!
In: 4
Pure-bred of a particular dog breed is a closed gene pool. For example a pure-bred beagle’s parents were both pure-bred beagles, and there parents were pure-bred beagles going back to when the breed type was officially created by the AKC or whatever organization is certifying its pure-bred status. This means that no new genes have been introduced into the breed’s bloodline since it was established. This may make the dog meet the breed standards, but it is not particularly healthy for the dogs since the closed gene-pool can amplify unhealthy genes. Mutts tend to be much more healthy than pure-bred dogs due to their open (more diverse) gene pool.
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