Welcome to Fidome, where the world of canine science meets a little creative wordplay. (Yes, it’s a mashup of “Fido” and “Genome.” This is your backstage pass to the fascinating world of canine science and genetics. While both decks offer a solid glimpse into the genetic quirks that shape your dog’s appearance, this is by no means the full saga. Think of it as the trailer, not the feature film.
The breeds featured in our upcoming decks represent a snapshot of dogs documented to carry specific mutations. But genetics is rarely so tidy. Most traits are the result of a genetic committee—several genes (sometimes dozens or even hundreds) working together to create the floofy, muscly, or pint-sized marvel sitting at your feet. The decks are a highlight reel of the genes we currently know that influence your dog’s looks.
The silver lining? There’s room for more! As science marches on and new discoveries come to light, this deck could expand like a Netflix series with unlimited seasons.
Let’s get this out of the way: Fidome is all about the visible stuff—size, coat type, muscle tone, and other physical traits. If you were hoping for a guide to doggie IQ scores or which gene makes your pup steal your snacks, this isn’t it.
While there’s plenty of interest in genes tied to temperament, aggression, and intelligence, unraveling those mysteries is like trying to untangle a box of holiday lights—complicated, frustrating, and possibly cursed. Brain-related traits are influenced by a staggering number of genes, not to mention environmental factors like diet, training, and whether your dog gets belly rubs on demand. All that adds up to a psychological puzzle that even genetics hasn’t fully cracked yet.
So, no, this deck won’t help you understand why your dog insists on barking at the vacuum or ignores you until food is involved.
This post includes a glossary of terms to help you navigate the science behind the deck—because what’s a little DNA without some jargon?
Let’s be clear, though: you do NOT need to know any science to enjoy or use the cards. They won’t quiz you, and there’s no pop test at checkout.
But, if you’re the type who loves geeking out over the finer details of genetics, the glossary below is here to scratch that scientific itch.
A few useful definitions for your viewing pleasure...
An allele is two or more versions of the same gene. For a given gene, an individual inherits one allele from their mother and one from their father. It’s the ultimate genetic hand-me-down, whether you wanted it or not.
Amino acids are building blocks that, in a multitude of combinations, make up the proteins that make up components in cells. There are roughly 20 amino acids.
The ability of a protein to function properly is dependent on its shape. The shape of a protein is determined by the precise order of amino acids. If the order is incorrect, the protein might function differently—or stage a quiet rebellion and stop working altogether.
A chromosome consists of a long chain of DNA, along with stabilizing proteins. The chain may be millions of nucleotides long and contain hundreds of genes. They exist in pairs, with one set of chromosomes from the mother and one from the father. Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes. Humans have 23. Who’s more complicated now?
DNA—Deoxyribonucleic acid—is made up of two strands that twist around each other to form a long ladder (called a double helix). The ladder is made up of four types of nucleotides—A, T, C & G.
Think of DNA as the ultimate micromanager—it holds the instructions for everything.
An individual inherits two versions (alleles) from their parents. In this case, only one copy of the allele is required for the trait to be expressed. The other allele (the recessive allele) is basically benched. Dominant alleles: the drama queens of genetics.
A gene is a stretch of DNA that codes for a protein. The code is made up of a unique sequence of A’s, T’s, C’s, and G’s. Proteins interact with each other (and other chemicals) to make up the cells and, ultimately, organs that make up the body.
Dogs (and humans) are believed to have approximately 20,000 genes. That’s a lot of code to unravel.
The genome is the entire set of genes found within a cell. All of these genes are what make all dogs (and you and I) unique. A dog’s genome is contained in 39 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 78.
Think of it as the dog’s personalized instruction manual.
The genotype refers to an organism’s genome—the sequence of the two alleles inherited for a specific gene. It’s the behind-the-scenes version of your DNA; the phenotype is the part that gets all the glory.
Being heterozygous means you possess two different alleles for a specific gene. Think of it as genetic diversity’s way of keeping things interesting.
Being homozygous meant you possess two identical alleles for a specific gene. The genetic equivalent of matching socks.
A mutation is a change that occurs in a DNA sequence—either through errors in DNA replication or environmental factors.
Some mutations are harmless and some can cause serious problems.
A phenotype refers to an individual’s observable traits—coat length, size, muscle mass, muzzle length, etc.—determined both by genes and environment. The genotype writes the script, but the phenotype steals the show.
Proteins are large complex structures made up of varying combinations of amino acids. They’re responsible for many functions within cells and are required for the proper structure and function of the body’s organs.
Basically, proteins are the multitasking overachievers of biology.
An individual inherits two versions (alleles) from their parents. In this case, both copies of the allele are required for the trait to be expressed. Recessive traits are the wallflowers of genetics—hanging out quietly until two of them decide to team up.
A retrogene is a copy of a gene.
Normally, DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein. The final protein fulfills a specific function.
But, occasionally, things don’t go quite as planned. RNA is converted (reverse transcribed) back into DNA, creating an extra copy of a gene. It’s like cloning but with more chaos.
If DNA is the recipe book, RNA (ribonucleic acid) is the harried sous-chef—shuttling recipes outside the nucleus to be “baked” into proteins in the ribosome kitchen. It’s like DNA but single-stranded, with ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose.
DNA makes RNA. RNA makes protein. Protein makes everything work. Simple enough, right?
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (pronounced “snips”) are nucleotide substitutions—where a single nucleotide is exchanged for another.
To qualify as a SNP, the substitution must occur in at least 1% of the population.
Basically, SNPs are genetic quirks that go mainstream.
