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What The Duck?!Author: ABC listen
The show with a mission to explore the mysteries of nature - especially the ones that make you go What the Duck?! Language: en Genres: Natural Sciences, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Designer dogs: What is a breed anyway?
Friday, 19 December, 2025
There's designer clothes, but they have nothing on designer dogs!They come in a huge range of shapes and colours and sizes, from the tiny Chihuahua to the Great Dane.In the animal world this much variation usually means different species, but not for dogs — so where did they all come from?And what role did Victorian-era rats play in the development of 'breed standards'?Featuring:Joyce Sullivan, papillon breederWayne Douglas OAM, Afghan Hound breederEsther Joseph, all breeds judgeMichael Worboys emeritus professor the University of ManchesterProfessor Greger Larson, evolutionary genomics at the University of OxfordDr Angela Perri, zooarchaeologist, Chronicle HeritageDr. Elaine Ostrander, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Dr Heidi Parker, geneticist at National Institutes of Health (US)Further reading:Canine Genomics and Genetics: Running with the PackThe invention of the basset hound: breed, blood and the late Victorian dog fancyProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerNat Tencic, ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerPetria Ladgrove, Executive ProducerThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in May and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.









