Blog | Darwin's Ark

A picture of Balto, one of Darwin's Dogs, walking toward the backyard in his backyard.

What’s Next for Darwin’s Dogs?

Published on September 2, 2026

DNA sequencing is back, and the next chapter of discovery is just beginning.

The questions that unite pet owners

Published on August 19, 2026

From ancestry to aging, the mysteries that fascinate pet owners are the same ones that scientists are working to answer.

Cat ancestry 201: What makes a breed?

Published on July 15, 2026

Every cat’s genome tells the story of its ancestry. Only some have a chapter on breed.

What dogs have been teaching us for 10 years

Published on July 9, 2026

From cancer research to canine behavior, here's how community scientists have helped move dog research forward.

2026: The year of the kitten

Published on June 17, 2026

A new report from Hill’s Pet Nutrition highlights growing research interest in kitten development and the need for better feline data.

A picture of Brodie, a border collie, and a member of Darwin's Dogs, looks on

Darwin's Dogs: Preparing for the next decade of discovery

Published on June 17, 2026

A look back at the project that started it all

Thinking outside the litter box

Published on May 20, 2026

Darwin’s Cats’ new urinary health survey is the first questionnaire of its kind to study a targeted—and common—category of feline health conditions.

A picture of DNA sequencing with the letters ACTG

How and why Darwin’s Ark studies pet DNA differently

Published on May 13, 2026

How community science, whole genome sequencing, and large datasets help researchers uncover new insights about cats and dogs

From fur strands to sequences: The journey of your cat’s DNA

Published on April 9, 2026

Your cat has a unique story written in their DNA. Learn how Darwin’s Cats’ sequencing research is reading that story, letter by letter.

Women in Science Q&A: Dr. Frances Chen

Published on March 16, 2026

From sneaking out of anatomy lab to study Hox genes to raising 15 guide dog puppies, Dr. Frances Chen explains how canine genetics is the missing link in solving complex health challenges for both dogs and humans.

Women in Science Q&A: Dr. Kasia Bryc

Published on February 17, 2026

From studying human ancestry to decoding cat genetics, Kasia Bryc shares her computational career story and explains how embracing diversity makes science more powerful.

Women in Science Q&A: Dr. Kathryn Lord

Published on February 9, 2026

Kathryn Lord talks about her career exploring canine evolution and behavior, and offers advice for aspiring scientists.

The Darwin’s Dogs Cancer Project

Published on January 21, 2026

Darwin’s Ark scientists bring a comparative genomics approach to cancer research that aims to improve care for both canine and human patients.

Seeing double? A domestic cat with a tabby coat pattern (left) closely resembles its ancestor, the African wildcat (right).

Cat ancestry 101: Evolution & wildcat connections

Published on January 21, 2026

Why cat ancestry isn’t like dog ancestry—and how genetics is revealing the story of the domestic cat.

Cat with white and brown fur stands amid a celebration scene with colorful balloons and confetti

A breakthrough year for feline science

Published on December 17, 2025

From fur-based DNA sequencing to unprecedented growth, 2025 marked a defining year for Darwin’s Cats.

Yellow Labrador Retriever tilts head to the left against a blue-grey background.

Debunking doggie DNA behavioral tests

Published on November 26, 2025

A new study from Darwin’s Ark reveals that genetic tests claiming to predict dog behavior don’t hold up to scientific scrutiny.

Toys and titans: exploring extreme dog size

Published on November 12, 2025

Darwin’s Dogs community scientists were invited to enroll their dogs in a new study exploring the genetic drivers of extreme size in dogs.

Long-haired tabby cat with grey and white fur and green eyes is examined by a veterinarian.

Surveying the cat health landscape

Published on October 29, 2025

Darwin's Cats’ latest survey asks big questions about cat health conditions and their potential genetic roots.

Kitten sits on its hind legs and reaches its front left paw towards a large DNA double helix oriented to look like a sign post.

Fur-thering DNA sequencing science

Published on September 17, 2025

Fur-based sequencing is powering our groundbreaking feline research. What else could it help scientists discover?

Darwin's Ark on display at the pet science fair

Published on August 19, 2025

Cambridge's community comes together for cats, dogs, and scientific discovery.

A golden retriever with a red cast on its front right paw lays on an examination table at the vet's office.

A breakthrough in bone cancer

Published on July 23, 2025

A study led by Darwin’s Ark researchers is the first to uncover the genomic landscape of canine oral osteosarcoma.

Seven cats with various coat colors and patterns sit in a line against a white background.

Meet the Darwin's Cats

Published on July 16, 2025

Curious about the thousands of fabulous felines in the Darwin’s Cats community? Pounce into this cat census based on your survey responses.

Orange cat lies against a teal background with the words "Darwin's Cats Science Talk" in the background.

Darwin’s Cats Science Talk: A conversation with our researchers

Published on June 17, 2025

Our scientists answered cat genetics questions in Darwin’s Ark’s first-ever webinar.

Australian shepherd dog herding a sheep in a field

Open science study reveals genomic evidence of herding dog behavior

Published on May 15, 2025

You herd it here first! New study used Darwin’s Dogs data to uncover genetic drivers of herding dog behavior

Two wolf-dog hybrids stand on a wooden overlook in a forest at a wolf sanctuary

The Wolf-Dog Hybrid Project

Published on May 13, 2025

Darwin’s Ark scientists are studying wolf-dog hybrids to map the genetic journey of dogs’ behavioral evolution from wolves.

Four orange cats sit side-by-side in front of a black background and behind the organizational logos for Darwin's Ark, the Broad Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, and Hill's Pet Nutrition.

Darwin’s Cats: A partnership with purr-pose

Published on April 24, 2025

Darwin’s Ark teams up with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and leading research institutions to improve cat well-being through community-powered genetics research.

Cat with white and grey fur lies on the ground next to two rows of puzzle pieces, with its front right paw placed over one of the pieces.

How surveys complete cats’ genetic puzzle

Published on April 15, 2025

Surveys help scientists make sense of DNA and the unexpected ways it shapes traits.

A cat owner uses a comb to collect fur from a black and white cat for DNA sequencing.

A (brush) stroke of genius: fur-based DNA sequencing

Published on March 19, 2025

Darwin’s Ark’s genomic breakthrough is revolutionizing cat genetic research

Elinor Karlsson, chief scientist of Darwin's Ark, wears a brown blazer and blue top and sits in a wood-paneled room at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Q&A: What Darwin’s Cats hopes to discover

Published on February 18, 2025

Elinor Karlsson talks about her vision for Darwin’s Ark’s long-awaited cat community science initiative

A working dog with white fur wearing a red service dog harness is lying on a paved surface outside.

Dogs with jobs—backed by science

Published on February 17, 2025

The Working Dog Project: A nonprofit partnership building better breeding selection tools

Cat owner cradles a fuzzy orange cat in their lap with white bedding in the background.

Is your cat’s birthplace in their DNA?

Published on January 14, 2025

Where in the world is your cat from? Their birthplace may hold clues to their genetic makeup.

A human unleashes a dog with white and brown fur.

Unleashing the power of comparative genomics

Published on November 15, 2024

Our bond with dogs may be the missing link to discovering the genetic basis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

An orange cat playfully stretched on its back inside of a cardboard box.

Darwin’s Cats: Decoding cats with community science

Published on November 15, 2024

Have you watched your cat make a beeline for an empty box or zoom around the room after a nap and wondered: why do they do that?

A cover of the magazine Science composed of a grid displaying the faces of seven different dogs with distinct features: a Great Dane, Dachshund, Collie, pug, and three mutts. Beneath the dog grid is text reading "JUST LOOKS?"

We made the cover of Science!

Published on April 28, 2022

Breed doesn't define a dog's behavior—but their genetics and environment do.

Graphics of eight distinct dog breeds (Entlebucher, Bearded Collie, Chinook, English Shepherd, Tibetan Mastiff, Belgian Malinois, Saluki, and American Pit Bull Terrier) stand in two rows of four.

An update to Genomic Breed Mix results

Published on February 14, 2020

Darwin's Dogs' expanded breed reference panel can detect eight additional breeds

Brown dog sitting on a sandy mound by a rocky seashore under an overcast sky.

What is a dog breed?

Published on October 2, 2018

Understanding the origins and evolution of modern dog breeds

Silhouettes of a human, mouse, and dog connected by blue arrows arranged in a circular fashion suggestion a relationship among them. In the center of the circle reads, "Shared neural circuitry?"

New paper shows how dogs can help advance OCD research

Published on November 17, 2017

Darwin's Ark affiliate scientists published a study in Nature that identifies genetic variants associated with compulsive disorders in humans and dogs.

Golden Retriever lies on a veterinary examination table. The dog is comforted by two veterinarians.

Studying cancer in dogs

Published on October 5, 2017

Understanding cancer in dogs can also teach us about cancer in people

Evolution & artificial design of dogs

Published on May 29, 2017

Discover the differences between wolves, the first domesticated dogs, and modern dog breeds.