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PEARSON — 98 years ago, Balto surged into history as the leader of the sled dog team that brought a desperately needed diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska at the height
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A recently published paper on the dog’s genomics establishes the diversity of 1920s sled dogs.
Balto gives scientists insight into what makes Alaska sled dogs and other working breeds unique.
A Cornell-led project used ancient DNA extraction and analysis to reconstruct the phenotype of the renowned sled dog Balto, revealing his lineage was genetically healthier and less inbred than modern breeds.
Balto, the dashing canine renowned for transporting diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, in 1925, is the most famous sled dog in history – immortalized in books, films and a statue in Manhattan’s Central Park. Now, a Cornell-led project has added a