Overview

• Researchers sequenced genomes from 92 ancient and modern Greenland sled dogs and compared them with nearly 2,000 global dog genomes to reconstruct Qimmit ancestry.
• Genetic data show Qimmit arrived in two distinct Inuit migration waves, with the first reaching Greenland around 1,200 years ago, earlier than previously believed.
• A 1904 ban on importing and crossbreeding has preserved breed purity but left regional sled dog populations genetically and geographically isolated.
• The study found minimal wolf hybridization and evidence that strong artificial and natural selection maintained fitness despite low diversity, yet warns that shrinking numbers could heighten inbreeding risks.
• With Qimmit counts halved since the early 2000s due to snowmobile adoption, warming climates and cultural shifts, scientists urge genomic-informed conservation to safeguard this element of Arctic heritage.