A Dog's Life Genes
14 December 2005
by Carina
Lee
|
The dog genome has been successfully sequenced and may be useful to better the understanding between humans and domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). The results may help with identifying factors related to different dog breeds as well as the genetic relationships between dogs and humans. Even though dogs are able to acquire about 360 genetic disorders also found in humans such as cancer and heart disease, the evolutionary lineage leading humans and canines split 95 million years ago. The sequencing of the genome at high resolution reported earlier this week, led scientists from the Broad Institute of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to several conclusions relating to their study of dog's genes. It was concluded that dogs have; about 19, 000 genes, at least 70% of these genes have human counterparts, and about 5% are identical to ours. These statistics have been compiled using the recent completion of the genome sequence of Tasha &endash; a pure-bred female boxer. Another interesting discovery relates to the way accelerated evolution of genes is similar in both humans and dogs. An example of this is brain function. From the University of Texas South-western Medical Centre, evolutionary geneticist J. Fondon, talks about the impact that these latest studies may have for future findings. "We can now expect to see a gold rush of new discoveries." he explains. |
 Knowing the the genes for a dog could help human health |
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Original abstract from Science Now
Nature
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