Australian labradoodle is more poodle than Labrador, according to DNA

By Jason Arunn Murugesu

The Australian labradoodle’s DNA is mostly poodle

Thurtell/Getty Images

Genetic analysis of the Australian labradoodle reveals that most of its genes come from the poodle, highlighting how small differences in genomes can result in new distinct breeds.

In the 1980s, a concerted effort began to produce a guide dog with a reduced likelihood of triggering allergic reactions in humans. The result is the Australian labradoodle – a cross between a Labrador retriever and a standard poodle, which doesn’t shed much hair that can trigger an allergic response.

“Australian labradoodles are one of the most popular designer-breeds in the United States,” …