International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 297-304 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 299 number of deleterious genetic variants in domestic dogs compared to their wild counterparts, such as gray wolves (Marsden et al., 2015). This is reflected in the higher ratio of amino acid-changing heterozygosity to silent heterozygosity in dogs, indicating a higher genetic load. The bottlenecks associated with domestication and breed formation have reduced the efficiency of natural selection, leading to an accumulation of deleterious variants in regions of the genome implicated in selective sweeps. This highlights the importance of maintaining large population sizes to prevent the accumulation of deleterious variants and preserve immune gene diversity. Figure 1 Multiple TLR family members can detect PAMPs on individual microorganisms (Adopted from Fitzgerald and Kagan, 2020) 4 Comparative Immunogenomics of Wild and Domestic Canids 4.1 Immune gene diversity in wild canids Wild canids, such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes, exhibit significant immune gene diversity, which is crucial for their survival in diverse and often challenging environments. For instance, studies have shown that wild canids like the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) possess a wide array of immune genes that enable them to respond effectively to various pathogens (Vinkler et al., 2023). The genetic diversity in these species is shaped by both historical and contemporary evolutionary forces, including genetic drift and pathogen-mediated selection. For example, toll-like receptors (TLRs) in wild canids continue to evolve dynamically, reflecting ongoing adaptation to pathogen pressures.
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