The Boston Terrier
A bit about the Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are great family pets. Love to be around people and have lots of attention. They are friendly with all ages but due to the medium energy levels, can sometimes knock down a younger child.
They are stubborn but willing to learn for the right person. Usually they are food driven so can be super easy to train.
When it comes to weather, the Boston Terrier prefers the comfort of the indoors. They dont like the cold but can play in snow if dressed for the occasion, they dont do well in the heat for a long period as they overheat easy, preferring the airconditioned environment.
The Boston Terrier isnt much of a barker. They only bark for a reason. Very easy to groom and dont shed much.
A natural instinct in the Boston Terrier is its ability to hunt small rodents/animals. In pasts history, bred for fighting, but they were to soft nature to pursue it.
Scroll down for Mutations that make the Boston Terrier
Mutations that make a Boston terrier
DNA
All dog breeds have some sort of mutation. Actually, they have a large number of mutations.
These mutations is what defines the dog. They are found in all species of animals, even us humans.
Mutations are mostly due to evolution and environmental changes. And each cell that divides, is a copy that is sometimes isnt quite perfect. That small difference from the original DNA sequence is a mutation.
So what mutations make a Boston Terrier?
Mutation: SMOC2, Brachycephalic Syndrome
Brachycephalic literally means “short-headed”, also known as snub nose or smooshed face.
Due to the abnormalities, such as an elongated soft palate, stenotic/narrow nostrils, everted laryngeal saccules (tissue in the throat which obstructs airflow), and a narrowed windpipe. All of these physical characteristics result in respiratory difficulty. Unfortunately, the breeding of these dogs to achieve a flatter nose has hampered their ability to dissipate heat, predisposing them to heat stroke.
Mutation: Chromosome 10, Erect ears:
Chromosome 10 is among those with the highest levels of genetic differentiation between dog breeds and is associated with body mass and ear morphology. This Chromosome is what shapes the ears.
The SNP is more frequent in the T (thymine) allele is more frequent in breeds with erect ears.
This mutation causes the T(Thymine) allele to be more frequent in the SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms), which is what makes the ears erect.
Mutation: Brachyury mutation, Short tail
Affects the tail length and sacral vertebrae in heterozygous animals. Brachyury, have a conserved role in defining the midline of a bilaterian organism. The inherited trait is autosomal dominant which means that dogs who carry one or two copies of the mutation will have a natural short tail.
Mutation: FGF5 gene, short coat:
Is caused by mutations within the fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene, this determines length of coat.
Coat colour; Mutation: Eumelanin, Recessive black + Phaeomelanin, Yellow/red
Despite the huge variety in coat color, there are only two basic pigments that determine the color of canines: Eumelanin (black) and Phaeomelanin (red). All different variations in color are created by these two mutated pigments, which are both forms of melanin.
Each of the pigments, Eumelanin and Phaeomelanin, has a "default" color that can be
modified by various genes. Genes essentially “dilute” the pigment into these other colors by preventing the production of full strength eumelanin.
K-LOCUS, black:
Dominant black is due to a mutation in a Beta-defensin gene (CBD103). This gene creates fawn colors in certain breeds. Black allele is actually a mutation that reduces or eliminates the expression of the agouti gene. (Phaeomelanin pigment).
E-Locus
A mutation in the MC1R gene causes the pigment-producing cells to only produce phaeomelanin, turning all eumelanin in the coat to phaeomelanin. This form of the gene is represented as the "e" allele. The "e" allele is recessive, meaning that a dog must have two copies of the MC1R mutation to express the yellow or red coat color. Recessive red can mask other color variants even masking merle.
K(br), brindle:
The Kbr allele is a separate mutation that still allows the agouti gene to be expressed, but causes brindling of the agouti patterns. Agouti gene - represents several different colors, such as fawn/sable, tricolor, tan points, or recessive black.
B-Locus, brown:
A mutation in the TYRP1 gene can occur causing a change in function which dilutes the black colour(K-LOCUS) pigment to a brown colour. If a dog carries two copies of the recessive allele, all black pigment appears brown.
D-Locus, Dilute:
This mutation affects both eumelanin and phaeomelanin pigments, so black, brown and yellow dogs are all affected by the dilution. However, this effect is more pronounced in black dogs.
A dilute black dog is generally known as blue, charcoal or grey. A diluted chocolate dog is often referred to as a lilac and a diluted yellow is known as a champagne.
S-Locus, White:
S(i) or “Irish spotting” that is a pattern in which there are white undersides, often a white neck collar, and sometimes white facial markings. White spotting can occur on any colour, and will cover up both eumelanin and phaeomelanin. White hair occurs when the skin cells are not able to produce pigment. The S gene impairs the ability of cells on particular parts of the skin to make pigment, so the skin becomes pink and the fur white.