[nudephil (OP)]

Imogen has had this question on her mind:

Why do dog breeds differ so much in appearance when they all descend from the wolf? I realise that humans have been breeding different types of dogs for hunting, as guard dogs etc., however I can simply not comprehend how a chihuahua and a greyhound can descend from the same animal.

What is it about dogs that means breeding can change their physiology so dramatically?

[Colin2B]

What is it about dogs that means breeding can change their physiology so dramatically?

It’s not just dogs.
All plants and animals evolve, usually through natural selection, but when humans are there to select a feature eg short legs then the process speeds up dramatically. You just need to keep selecting those features you want and rejecting the rest.
Selective breeding is one of the most obvious demonstrations of the mechanism of evolution.

[chiralSPO]

https://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/8/6/5974989/kale-cauliflower-cabbage-broccoli-same-plant


brassica-oleracea.0.jpg (35.52 kB . 640x399 - viewed 5765 times)

[costarican]

We have 4 dogs that couldn't be more different.