Scientists find dingoes genetically different from domestic dogs after decoding genome

Researchers compared the genome of Sandy, a pure desert dingo, to that of five domestic dog breeds and found her DNA to be distinct and shaped by Australia’s environment. Photograph: Barry Eggleton

Dingoes are genetically distinct from domestic dogs and their evolution has been shaped by Australia’s environment, scientists who have fully decoded the dingo genome have said.

An international team of researchers have analysed the genetic makeup of a pure desert dingo called Sandy Maliki, finding that dingoes are an intermediary between wolves and domestic dog breeds.