A 120-y time series of genomes reveals the consequences of closed breeding in German Shepherd Dogs.

ABSTRACT: Many contemporary breed dogs display reduced genomic health compared to mixed-breed dogs, including reduced heterozygosity and increased genetic load, likely due to strong directed breeding. Lack of historical genomes, however, has made it difficult to disentangle the timing and drivers of these declines given complex and breed-specific demographic histories, artificial selection, and crossbreeding. Here, we sequenced genomes of nine 20th-century museum specimens (1906-1993) of pedigree German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) to directly assess the consequences of contemporary breeding practices on genomic diversity and health over time. The GSD breed offers an excellent case study, given the breed's fluctuations in global popularity, differing selective regimes, and the GSD's use in the establishment

SUBMITTER: Scarsbrook L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12684887 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature