Hearing gene MSRB3 helps decode dogs’ ear length
A study analyzing more than 3,000 dogs, plus wolves and coyotes, links DNA variants near the MSRB3 gene to ear length, explaining why some breeds have long, floppy ears while others have short, erect ones. Presented at a genome conference and published in Scientific Reports, the work suggests both natural factors and selective breeding have shaped canine ear morphology across breeds.