Wolf Color Genetics
The groups from Stanford and UCLA joined forces to uncover the genetic basis of black coat color in wolves (Anderson et al. 2009). They focussed on the wolves of Yellowstone park.
The same 3 bp deletion that causes black in many domestic dog breeds, was found to cause black in the wolf pack there, and also from Canada. The Genetics of Wolf Coloration Wolf color variations are the result of complex genetic processes. A black coat, for instance, is often caused by a mutation in the beta-defensin CBD103 gene, also known as the K locus.
Semi-natural wolf adoptables - OPEN by ForeignFrontierRanch on DeviantArt
Interestingly, this mutation is thought to have originated in domestic dogs and was passed to wolves through interbreeding. Guessing the color of the coat of a gray wolf seems like a no-brainer. But the canines, whose habitats are spread across North America and Eurasia, aren't always actually gray.
On the North American continent, specifically, the farther south you go, the more wolves there are with dark, black. Wolf coat color variation can relate to camouflage, as in white Arctic wolves, or to enhanced immunity, as in black wolves. A wolf's coat can also vary with age and season.
3 Using Genes and Genomes to Identify Species and Subspecies ...
Pups are typically born with darker fur, which lightens as they mature. Older wolves may develop grey-white hair, similar to the greying process observed in other animals. While seasonal changes involve fur thickness for insulation, the underlying genetic color remains consistent.
In gray wolves, the K locus, a β-defensin gene, causes black coat color via a dominantly inherited KB allele. The allele is derived from dog. The genetic mutation that causes the wolves to have their black coloring first occurred in domestic dogs.
| yellow dogs and white wolves share an ancient HCP haplotype. a ...
It was when domestic dogs and wolves were cross-bred that the genetic mutation was spread to gray wolves. In the past, some red wolves also had black pelts. Knowing how important color is, the unusually balanced color population has set the stage for studies that explore the link between genetics, fitness and selection.
A wolf's coat color is determined by at least three different genes. Wolf pelt colors exhibit genetic variation influenced by genes and alleles. Subspecies vary in pelt coloration, with black, gray, white, and brown being common morphs.
Environmental factors like climate and diet can also impact pelt color. Scientific studies delve into the genetic, ecological, and taxonomic implications of wolf pelt color, contributing to our understanding of wolf diversity. A picture of a black wolf taken on a road in Valley County, Idaho, United States Genetic research has shown that black-furred wolves owe their coloration to a mutation that first arose in domestic dogs.
(photo taken in Yellowstone National Park) Illustration of a "European black wolf" by Charles Hamilton Smith An illustration of an "American black wolf" by John James Audubon An engraving of a.
