A dog that pulled his way into history has given scientists insight into what makes Alaska sled dogs and other working breeds unique.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. One dog led the way through a deadly blizzard. With Nome’s ...

After Balto died in 1933 at the Cleveland Zoo, his taxidermy mount was put on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Credit: Cleveland Museum of Natural History After Balto died in 1933 ...

Gunnar Kaasen and his dog Balto, the heroic dog-sled team leader, sit for a portrait in the early 1920s. They were part of a group of mushers and sled dogs that braved frigid conditions to bring ...

Balto’s genetic makeup shows a greater ability to process starches when compared to wolves and Greenland sled dogs.