Not to bring it back to the dog thing but I see this comparison a lot when the wobble argument is brought up.
It’s important to realize that the spider gene is a SINGLE gene (single locus) acting to influence the characteristics of an animal, while the smashed faces and breathing problems inherent to brachycephalic dogs is the work of many different genes on different loci coming together to influence the look of the animal; being brachycephalic is a polygenic trait, is what I’m getting at, and it’s not a very apt comparison if you want to draw analogies between deleterious traits.
A more accurate comparison would be the breeding of “super merle” or “double merle” aussies (and other breeds that carry the trait). The “super merle” dogs can command a high price tag and are generally born either deaf, blind, or both... and are usually bought and brought home before the buyer realizes the pup’s abnormalities. The supers are generally all or almost all white, and it does raise an interesting question (in my mind at least) as to whether the heterozygote merles possibly show subtle genetic or behavioral flaws, such as spiders do.
Sources for those who are interested:
http://www.amazingaussies.com/What%2...l%20Whites.pdf
http://www.dogingtonpost.com/double-...y-preventable/
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