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NOVA: DOGS and More Dogs
Whether you are a dog person or not, there’s no denying dogs are an evolutionary marvel,
and thanks to human intervention they are one of the most diverse species on earth. With
an amazing array of sizes, shapes, colors, temperaments and other quirks, canis familiaris
features one of the most tinkered-with gene pools in the animal kingdom.
1. Dogs come in more shapes and sizes than any other ____ on the planet.
2. All dogs arose from a population of ____ about (1,000; 10,000; 100,000) (Choose one) years ago.
3. What is one explanation as to how the ferocious wild wolf become domesticated (explain this in terms of
puppies)?
4. What is another explanation of how natural selection produced domesticated “dogs” (use the scavenger
theory to explain this)?
5. Traits, like curly tails or patchy skin, are determined by ____
6. What happened to the Russian population of foxes as they were breed over 10 generations which surprised
the scientist leading the experiment?
7. True or False: The Saluki dog can outrun any mammal on earth in a 3 mile race.
8. What are some of the adaptations salukis have which make them excellent “running machines”?
9. True or False: ALL DNA in cells code for proteins.
10. True or False: A gene can be turned “on” or “off”
11. How many different breeds of dogs exist?
12. Explain how inbreeding dogs for “good or perfect” traits also produces “bad or disease” traits as well.
13. True or False: Dogs can be narcoleptic just like humans.
Summary: Explain the evolution of the dog.
NOVA: DOGS and More Dogs
Whether you are a dog person or not, there’s no denying dogs are an evolutionary marvel, and
thanks to human intervention they are one of the most diverse species on earth. With an
amazing array of sizes, shapes, colors, temperaments and other quirks, canis familiaris
features one of the most tinkered-with gene pools in the animal kingdom.
1. Dogs come in more shapes and sizes than any other ____ on the planet.
2. All dogs arose from a population of ____ about (1,000; 10,000; 100,000) (choose one)
years ago.
3. What is one explanation as to how the ferocious wild wolf become domesticated (explain this in terms of
puppies)?
4. What is another explanation of how natural selection produced domesticated “dogs” (use the scavenger
theory to explain this)?
5. Traits, like curly tails or patchy skin, are determined by ____
6. What happened to the Russian population of foxes as they were breed over 10 generations which surprised
the scientist leading the experiment?
7. True or False: The Saluki dog can outrun any mammal on earth in a 3 mile race.
8. What are some of the adaptations salukis have which make them excellent “running machines”?
9. True or False: ALL DNA in cells code for proteins.
10. True or False: A gene can be turned “on” or “off”
11. How many different breeds of dogs exist?
12. Explain how inbreeding dogs for “good or perfect” traits also produces “bad or disease” traits as well.
13. True or False: Dogs can be narcoleptic just like humans.
Summary: Explain the evolution of the dog.