A pair of Badugi dogs stand during a press conference at Konkuk University on June 8, 2023. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Badugi, an extinct indigenous dog breed that once featured in old school curricula and pre-modern artwork, has been successfully restored, according to South Korean researchers.
A research team from Konkuk University on Thursday announced a study on the geographical and historical origins of the Korean dog breed through genome analysis.
Badugi is a variety of the Sapsali dog breed with short hair, which vanished during the Japanese rule of the Korean peninsula.
By extracting the genetic traits that persisted in the Sapsali dog, the research team managed to restore the Badugi breed.
As part of the project, they cloned 50 Badugi dogs.
To create a new species with the genetic traits of Badugi, the research team carefully selected and crossbred Sapsali dogs carrying those specific characteristics.
Sufficient numbers of the restored dogs now exist to classify them as a distinct breed.
“This is the first instance of creating a new breed with the rooted genetic traits of Badugi, although there have been previous cases of Sapsali dogs being born in small numbers through nuclear transfers and artificial fertilization,” said Park Chan-kyu, a genomics professor at Konkuk University who led the research project.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
