Dog Genes Tell Surprising Tales

A free evening talk on how dog genomics reveals the origins of breed traits, behaviour and links to human health.

This talk explores how dogs were domesticated from wolves nearly 20,000 years ago and how human selection produced the distinct shapes, sizes and behaviours of modern breeds. Drawing on genome sequences from thousands of dogs across more than 350 breeds, it explains how a small number of large-effect genes control traits such as body size and head shape, many of which are also relevant to human health and biology. Studies of dog behaviour are also discussed, offering a vocabulary for the stereotypical behaviours seen across breeds. The event runs 18:30–19:30 at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.