ONE OF THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY’S ICONIC RESIDENTS CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO SCIENCE
New Research Reveals Insights Into One of the World’s Most Famous Dogs
CLEVELAND—Embargoed: Not for Release Until 14:00 (2 pm) U.S. Eastern Time Thursday, 27 April 2023—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is proud to count legendary sled dog Balto among the residents of its permanent collection, especially as he continues to contribute to science nearly 100 years after his lifesaving mission.
In new studies published today in a special issue of Science, researchers have demonstrated how comparative genomics (the study of an organism’s genes) can not only shed light on how certain species achieve extraordinary feats, but also help scientists better understand the parts of the human genome (the basic recipe for building a human being) that are functional and how they might influence health and disease.
Through these studies, researchers identified DNA that has remained the most unchanged across mammalian species and millions of years of evolution—and is likely biologically important. They also found part of the genetic basis for unique mammalian traits, such as the ability to hibernate or sniff out faint scents from miles away. And they pinpointed species that may be particularly susceptible to extinction, as well as genetic variants that are more likely to play causal roles in rare and common human diseases. The findings come from analyses of DNA samples collected by more than 50 different institutions worldwide, including from Balto at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
“The fact that the DNA from a tiny sample of Balto’s skin can provide new scientific insights is a powerful reminder of how advances in science continually allow us to glean new information from museum collections,” says Dr. Gavin Svenson, the Museum’s Chief Science Officer. “Every one of the millions of objects in our Museum has the potential to reveal an important clue to a future scientist, who in turn can enhance our understanding of the past, present, and future of the world around us.”
In 1925, Balto gained worldwide fame after leading a 13-dog team on the final leg of a 674-mile dogsled relay to deliver lifesaving medicine to Nome, Alaska, during an outbreak of diphtheria. Because Nome’s port was icebound and inaccessible by sea, the remote outpost’s only reliable link to the outside world was via dogsled. Completed by 20 mushers and more than 150 dogs in a record 127 hours, the so-called Serum Run was an amazing feat of endurance. Despite -50°F temperatures and a raging blizzard, Balto and his team traversed the last 53 miles to Nome—saving the town and surrounding communities. After delivering the serum to Nome’s hospital, musher Gunnar Kaasen went straight back to Balto, hugging him and repeating the praise “Damn fine dog.”
The courage of Balto and his teammates made them famous, but that fame was fleeting. After touring the United States vaudeville circuit with Kaasen for two years, Balto and his team were sold and put on display in a dime museum in Los Angeles. Ill and mistreated, Balto and six of his surviving teammates caught the attention of George Kimble, a businessman visiting from Cleveland. Familiar with the story of the Serum Run and outraged by the deplorable conditions, Kimble arranged to purchase the dogs for $1,500. The only catch was that he had just two weeks to raise the money.
Kimble returned to Cleveland and established a Balto Fund, taking to national radio and the local newspaper, The Plain Dealer, to appeal for donations. The response of the Cleveland community was unprecedented. The money was raised in just 10 days, with donations pouring in from individuals and businesses across the city, including schoolchildren, factory workers, out-of-town visitors, hotels, local stores, and the Western Reserve Kennel Club.
On March 19, 1927, Balto and his remaining teammates, Fox, Billy, Tillie, Sye, Old Moctoc, and Alaska Slim, received a hero’s welcome in Cleveland, complete with a parade through downtown’s Public Square. The sled dogs spent the rest of their days under the care of Cleveland’s Brookside Zoo, which was subsequently managed by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Balto became a local Cleveland celebrity.
Following Balto’s natural death in 1933, his mount was put on display at the Museum. A shining example of triumph in the face of incredible odds, Balto also serves as a reminder of Cleveland’s philanthropic tradition—a spirit of generosity that endures in the community today. One of the Museum’s most treasured attractions, Balto continues to inspire visitors and captivate the popular imagination through his story.
“Preserving Balto’s legacy is something we take very seriously,” says Sonia Winner, the Museum’s President & CEO. “We are thrilled that such a beloved figure of the past continues to have relevance in the present. Balto’s story is also a great story about Cleveland. The generosity of Clevelanders allowed Balto and his teammates to spend the rest of their lives at the Brookside Zoo, which at one time was operated by the Museum."
Balto was an unlikely hero. Born in Nome in 1919, he was always a bit of a disappointment to Leonhard Seppala, his original owner. Seppala was in the business of breeding small, fast huskies for racing, and Balto was stout and strong—a “freight-hauling dog.” As a result, Balto was neutered, and no specific records were saved about him or his litter.
Now, in one of the new studies published in Science, Dr. Beth Shapiro, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Dr. Heather Huson, Associate Professor of Animal Science at Cornell University, demonstrate that Balto possessed more genetic diversity than modern breeds. This genetic diversity may have contributed to his being a hardier canine, well adapted to the extreme Alaskan environment.
Balto is most often referred to as a Siberian husky, and one myth even claims that he was part wolf. But the DNA work completed in Dr. Shapiro’s UCSC lab revealed that he was only part Siberian husky.
“Balto also had ancestry related to several other living dog lineages, including Alaskan sled dogs, village dogs, Greenland dogs, and Tibetan mastiffs,” Dr. Shapiro says.
“In short, Balto lived in a time when there was more diversity in dogs than there is today in modern breeds, likely making Balto better equipped to thrive in that environment,” Dr. Huson adds.
The Balto study was conducted using data compiled by The Zoonomia Project, which sequences and compares the genomes of 240 diverse mammals to discover both the genomic basis of traits essential for all animals and changes that underlie the unique traits of individual species. The Zoonomia Project is a powerful resource for connecting genomic data to population phenotypes—the set of observable characteristics of an organism that result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. Not only does this study offer more insight into the legendary Balto, but it also provides a road map for future scientific investigations based on the comparison of genomic traits.
More information, including a copy of the paper, can be found online at the Science press package at https://www.eurekalert.org/press/scipak/.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Transformation Project
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History opened part of its transformed campus in December 2022, introducing a new Wade Oval Entrance, modernized Education Wing, and updated galleries. This opening is the latest milestone in the Museum’s $150 million transformation project, which features a LEED-certified expansion, a complete reimagining of the Museum campus and all its exhibits, and the addition of new public spaces. Pioneering a new model for natural history museums, the redesigned exhibits will place visitors at the center of the Museum experience—allowing them to better understand their connection with the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives. Slated for completion in late 2024, the transformation will showcase the Museum’s world-class assets while reflecting its role as a trusted resource that prioritizes engagement and responsiveness to its community. The Transforming the World of Discovery campaign has raised more than $123 million for this project, which will expand the Museum's building and outdoor visitor areas to more than 375,000 square feet. The Museum appreciates the generous support from community members, corporations, foundations, and government grants that has helped to make this transformation a reality.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contact:
Samantha Guenther, External Communications Manager, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
216.403.4557
sguenther@cmnh.org