Balto’s DNA Analysis The First Of Its Kind

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288 – June, 2023

By Caroline Coile

While Balto’s claim to fame as the hero of the Iditarod may be a matter of dispute–given that kennelmate Togo was the actual workhorse–Balto has now become famous for something else: He’s the first subject of an analysis comparing his individual DNA with that of modern dogs.

Researchers from around the world investigated Balto’s DNA as part of Zoonomia, the most massive DNA comparison of mammals yet performed. Zoonomia compared the DNA of 240 mammalian species, looking for regions that could explain various differences between animals.

But some researchers were also curious about what the in-depth analyses could tell them about individual animals, and specifically, how an individual from 100 years ago compares to those of the same domesticated species today. That’s where Balto once again raced into history. Not only was his DNA available, but he was famous and functional. A star was (re)born!

After he died in 1933, Balto’s taxidermied remains had been put on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Researchers obtained DNA using a pencil eraser-sized sample from the underbelly of Balto’s hide. His DNA was then compared to that of 682 wolves, coyotes, and dogs of different breeds. The dogs included modern sled breeds such as Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.

Click here to read the complete article
288 – June, 2023

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Posted by AnthonyA on Jun 25 2023. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.