The Genetic Legacy of Balto: Revealing the Ancestry and Traits of the Famous Sled Dog
A new study has revealed that Balto, the famous sled dog who led a team to deliver lifesaving medicine during a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska in 1925, was not just a Siberian husky but a mixture of different Arctic and Asian breeds.[0] The research team extracted DNA from tissue samples of Balto’s taxidermied remains from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to investigate his genetic traits and ancestry.[1] The study found that Balto belonged to a population of working sled dogs that were more genetically diverse than modern breeds and differed not only from today's Siberian huskies but also from modern Alaskan sled dogs.
The researchers found that Balto was a more genetically diverse animal than modern huskies. However, he differs genetically from contemporary sled dogs.[2] Balto possessed genes indicating his enhanced ability to digest starch compared to wolves and genetically diverse Greenland sled dogs, but inferior to that of contemporary dogs. Moreover, the team discovered that Balto possessed a characteristic that aids in the digestion of starch, which is absent in wolves but prevalent in contemporary canine breeds. Although sled dogs’ traditional diet consists primarily of meat, Balto likely consumed foods rich in starch as well.
The researchers found evidence that Balto’s population was genetically healthier than modern breeds and carried gene variants that may have helped the dogs survive their extreme environment.[3] The team compared Balto’s genome to a dataset of 682 genomes from modern dogs and wolves, as well as an alignment of 240 mammalian genomes developed by the Zoonomia Consortium, an international collaboration effort to find the genomic basis of shared and specialized traits in mammals.[4]
According to co-author Beth Shapiro, a key innovation behind this study is the ability to align the genomes of hundreds of species so that corresponding positions in different genomes can be compared.[3] By comparing these genomes, it is possible to identify DNA sequences that have remained unchanged throughout millions of years of evolution, and that are shared across different species.[3] The fact that these regions of the genome remain stable suggests their significance, and any alterations to these vital components could have particularly detrimental effects.[5]
The study sheds light on why Balto and similar sled dogs from that period proved well-suited to thrive in the harsh winter environment.[6] By utilizing Balto's genome, the team successfully reconstructed his physical features, such as his coat color, with greater accuracy than what could be seen in old photographs. This genetic treasure trove proved to be a valuable resource.[5] Moon stated that this project provides a glimpse into the possibilities that arise with the availability of more high-quality genomes for comparison.[3] This is a thrilling moment as we are venturing into uncharted territories.[5] The sensation of being an explorer envelops me, with Balto once more taking the lead.[5]
0. “Balto's genome reveals famed sledge dog was a mutt” New Scientist, 27 Apr. 2023, https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370811-baltos-genome-reveals-famed-sledge-dog-was-a-mutt/
1. “Science News Roundup: New image reveals violent events near a supermassive black hole; China unveils plan to build satellite system for space exploration and more” Devdiscourse, 27 Apr. 2023, https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/2432619-science-news-roundup-new-image-reveals-violent-events-near-a-supermassive-black-hole-china-unveils-plan-to-build-satellite
2. “Geneticists link DNA of famed sled dog Balto to modern breeds | Cornell Chronicle” Cornell Chronicle, 27 Apr. 2023, https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/04/geneticists-link-dna-famed-sled-dog-balto-modern-breeds
3. “Genome of famed sled dog Balto reveals genetic adaptations of working dogs” Phys.org, 27 Apr. 2023, https://phys.org/news/2023-04-genome-famed-sled-dog-balto.html
4. “Scientists Sequence Genome of Famous Good Boy Balto the Sled Dog” Gizmodo, 27 Apr. 2023, https://gizmodo.com/balto-sled-dog-dna-genome-huskies-zoonomia-alaska-1850378435
5. “How different is Balto, the heroic sled dog, from today’s Siberian huskies?” Popular Science, 27 Apr. 2023, https://www.popsci.com/environment/baltos-husky-dog-sled-genetics-dna
6. “Scientists sequenced the genome of Balto, famous sled dog of 1925 “Serum Run”” Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2023, https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/04/scientists-sequenced-the-genome-of-balto-famous-sled-dog-of-1925-serum-run
