uccsbiology
Squirt: Artificial Selection's Poster Baby
Squirt is a 12 year old English Bulldog who bares very little resemblance to her ancestral wolf relatives. Squirt is the product of artificial selection resulting from humans selectively breeding dogs with short snouts and stocky figures in order to select for traits that beget strong, resilient offspring for bullbaiting. Generations of inbreeding has resulted in less genetic variability between bulldogs, which has contributed to the relatively poor health and shorter life expectancy of the breed. Bulldogs are also incapable of vaginal birth due to their broad shoulders and thin hips, making Cesarean section the only means by which bulldog puppies can be delivered. Though artificial selection has resulted in the formation of this adorable, goofy organism, it has also contributed to her decreased relative fitness; Squirt cannot have puppies. Interestingly, Squirt is a phenomenal swimmer, yet has been unable to walk without a limp for the past five years due to a failed ACL surgery.
Photo Credit: Grace Knight, 2018
Squirt: Artificial Selection's Poster Baby
Squirt is a 12 year old English Bulldog who bares very little resemblance to her ancestral wolf relatives. Squirt is the product of artificial selection resulting from humans selectively breeding dogs with short snouts and stocky figures in order to select for traits that beget strong, resilient offspring for bullbaiting. Generations of inbreeding has resulted in less genetic variability between bulldogs, which has contributed to the relatively poor health and shorter life expectancy of the breed. Bulldogs are also incapable of vaginal birth due to their broad shoulders and thin hips, making Cesarean section the only means by which bulldog puppies can be delivered. Though artificial selection has resulted in the formation of this adorable, goofy organism, it has also contributed to her decreased relative fitness; Squirt cannot have puppies. Interestingly, Squirt is a phenomenal swimmer, yet has been unable to walk without a limp for the past five years due to a failed ACL surgery.
Photo Credit: Grace Knight, 2018