I’ve returned from a week in Belgium a couple of days ago… maybe I’ll write about it. Maybe not, though; I don’t feel like writing long articles these days.
“Our creepiest genetic invention, the dog” on Slate is a good read with interesting links.
Not all our designs were utilitarian. We made some breeds just for fun. Some, like the Pharaoh Hound, were thought to be ancient because they looked like dogs drawn on Egyptian tombs. But last year, when we checked their DNA, we found no evidence they were older than modern breeds. Apparently, breeders crafted them by mating dogs that looked like the drawings. Life imitated art.
I remember hearing a rebuttal for cruelty to cows claims that went something like… “they are the most successful animals in history!” Meaning that by their utility to humans they outlived their time. This is more of an interesting insight than excuse, though.