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In sum, Cadieu et al. show how genomics can take you from observable differences (phenotypes) to the minute discrepancies in coding that allow for so much variation. While their evidence for coat types resulting in part from these genetic variations, it's also just one example of the complex, polygenetic makeup that comprises all life, enabling the rich diversity we share. It didn't hurt that the story they told involved much-loved canine characters.

Overall, I was very impressed with this paper. I found the explanations to be mostly clear, and the authors seemed to exercise appropriate discretion in choosing which figures to include in the main article and which to provide in supplementary data, given the limited space most journals afford.

In specific, really liked how Cadieu et al. tied together the results of their three seemingly separate studies by creating the diagram of figure three that showed the combinatorial effects of these genes and provided a clear genotype--phenotype connection. Both the presentation and flow of the paper was elegant; I felt as though I was unraveling a mystery novel that provided an exciting twist at the end. I look forward to hearing more from these researchers, as I doubt their quest stopped here. Their findings, while exciting and noteworthy, have only scratched the surface of the polygenetic analysis of traits.

 

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