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Vale
NEWS
“The Boxer’s genome was put together with ‘Sanger’ sequencing, which can read about 1000 bases in length at a time, while the technology that is available today – Next Generation sequencing – can read up to 15,000 bases. “What this means is, if you’ve got a region of genes that is duplicated and running more than 1000 bases, Sanger sequencing will not be able to tell you which part of the genes that particular sequence comes from. So whereas there were about 23,000 gaps in Sanger’s Boxer genome, the Next Gen sequencer had just over 300.”
Bred for success
The German Shepherd genome is also an advance on 2005’s Boxer genome because of the breed itself. As Boxers are more specialised, with more inbreeding in their genetic history, the German Shepherd’s genome is therefore more generic. The authors believe that this will provide better understanding of the evolution of dog breeds in general. Professor Ballard reckons this will not be the last time a domestic dog breed’s genome is sequenced. “I would expect that as the costs come down, all the major breeds will have a genome mapped within 10 years, because this will help identify specific diseases, and lots of breeds have known specific diseases.”
VALE. Rita Francis Little
9/10/1934 - 13/2/2020
Rita was born in Condobolin and spent her young years on the family sheep farm in Trundle, travelling to school in a sulky. She was quite the tomboy, having two brothers, and spent much of her time running around in bare feet and defending her brothers from bullies!
As a young woman, Rita was one of Sinclair and Knight’s first female draftsman, and was also quite the adventurer, driving from Sydney to London in an MG, at a time when Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Syria had very little road infrastructure. At the age of 40, in 1975, Rita travelled to California to take part in the Tevis Cup, “100 miles one day” Trail Ride, “the world’s best known and most difficult endurance ride”. Rita finished 13th overall, with competitors from all over the world and was recognised for her remarkable horsemanship. In 1974, Rita got her first Jack Russell Terriers, Moggy and Beattie, and we first met in 1982, just after I arrived with three Jack Russells from the UK. I think there were only two other “Jack Russell people” in Sydney back then. Together we started trying to promote the breed in NSW, as back then the breed Club was in Victoria, and not many people knew what they were in Sydney! We appeared on Simon Townsend’s Wonderworld, Good Morning Australia, and twice before recognition of the breed on Burkes Backyard! We were invited to do some Jack Russell Racing at both The British Terrier Club of NSW and North of the Harbour Shows. An invitation was also extended to be a part of the Great Joint Terrier Show, and organise some shows. We were permitted to use “official” judges, and some to officiate were Gish Lesh, Bob Curtis, Adrian Walmsley, Norma Griffin and Ian Southwick. Following recognition of the Jack Russell Terrier, Rita enjoyed showing at Sydney Royal Easter Show, winning Runner Up to Best In Group with her dog CH. Malung Orinoco in 1993. Orinoco to this day is talked about as being one of, if not the greatest, sires in Australia. Many of today’s Jack Russell Breeders have Rita’s Carisbrooke Prefix in their dogs’ pedigrees. Rita was a founder member of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of NSW, a Life Member of the club and President for several terms. Rita was well known by all members, particularly those who enjoyed the Club’s Race Days. Her fruit cakes were legendary raffle prizes! She was also a Life member of The British Terrier Club of NSW and, for many years, was their photographer and Archives Officer.
In 1997 Rita undertook Judges training for the Terrier Group. Following her appointment she judged throughout Australia and later in Sweden, Russia, Finland and Italy. She was also present at the first Jack Russell Terrier Club show in the UK in 2016. Her 2019 appointment in Italy was to be her last overseas venture and included a seminar “A Day with Rita Francis-Little.” Rita loved her Jack Russells and all Terriers (she had a Cairn Terrier for a while). Her last judging appointment here was the Border Terrier Club of NSW last July. So many tributes have flowed from across the world and she certainly is being missed.
