It’s in the Genes – Dogs and Man Closely Linked
Feb 18th, 2009 by Axel
A recent article in Science published last week discussed the results of genetic sequencing done for the first time on Man’s Best Friend. It seems a genetic researcher by the name of J. Craig Venter offered his standard poodle to science (well, his DNA anyway) in order for genetic sequencing to be performed on the canine’s specimen. Venter is better known for being part of one of the two teams to first map the human genome.
It seems dogs are genetically complex beasts. According to the research “dogs have about 2.4 billion base pairs of DNA, or about half a billion fewer than humans.” More importantly from the perspective of disease study, dogs share approximately 360 of the same genetic problems and disorders found in humans.
This revelation could prove invaluable as the medical community continues to work to understand the genetic origins of human diseases and disorders. While mice are closer to humans with regard to the time they appeared on Earth, dogs are infinitely closer to humans as far as their genetic makeup and infrastructure.
But the research isn’t wholly conclusive and there are still many DNA fragments that are not fully mapped and are considered incomplete for now. Compared to the mouse, the genetic sequencing of the dog is still woefully lacking. What is interesting, however, is that much of the mapping for the canine sequencing could be constructed based on what was already known about other mammals.
This is important because it indicates a turning point as researchers become more adept at the process, which speeds the studies and decreases costs. Work on the dog’s DNA is expected to continue and be much more conclusive within a year.
Researchers will move forward with similar studies on the DNA of several other species – most likely whales, dolphins and elephants – for what it is costing to completely map a dog’s DNA. The more species researched, the greater the understanding of the human genome, which will continue to improve the treatment of genetic diseases and disorders in humans.
This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of recognized online universities. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com
