In Darwin Devolves, he explains how much evolution depends on breaking genes. He picks up the theme in this video series. In the case of wolves, we call the broken ones dogs:
Dogs, for one, in their great variety descend from wolves. Atheist biologist Richard Dawkins and others have pointed to man’s best friend as confirmation that evolution creatively builds new species. Behe explains, though, that when the cell’s secrets are considered — biological information at the DNA level — we discover that dogs are broken wolves. Of course that doesn’t make them any less loveable. They evolved largely by losing genetic functions through mutation. As Dr. Behe explains, “The mutations don’t construct new genes. Most of them break or damage preexisting genes.” He gives specific illustrations. In fact, some of the things we love most about dogs are due to such “disruptions” or “degradations” of genes. In just five minutes, Behe expands his case studies of the phenomenon to polar bears and the E. coli bacteria studied in Richard Lenski’s famous lab.
David Klinghoffer, “Episode 4 of Secrets of the Cell — Broken Wolves and other Evolutionary Conundrums” at Evolution News and Science Today