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From: szabo@crg5.UUCP (Nick Szabo)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs,sci.bio
Subject: Re: What is the origin of domestic dogs?
Message-ID: <20853@crg5.UUCP>
Date: 6 Jan 91 01:01:50 GMT
References: <1990Dec23.055209.7722@agate.berkeley.edu>
Reply-To: szabo@crg5.UUCP (Nick Szabo)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc
Lines: 18

In article <1990Dec23.055209.7722@agate.berkeley.edu> greg@math.berkeley.edu writes:
>What is the parent species of the domestic dog?  If I understand correctly,
>Canis Familiaris is designated a separate species because it has a separate
>habitat, not because it is separated from the rest of Canis by a genetic
>inability to breed.  

Is the definition of species "genetic inability to breed" or "practical
inability to breed"?  I doubt a chihuahua (assuming it could survive
in the wild) would mate with a wolf, regardless of genetic or developmental 
compatability.



-- 
Nick Szabo			szabo@sequent.com
"If you want oil, drill lots of wells" -- J. Paul Getty
The above opinions are my own and not related to those of any
organization I may be affiliated with.