Ever wondered why some dogs fetch stick and other don’t, well thanks to molecular biologists mapping the complete genome of a dog for the first time we now know it down to genetics. However the question needs to be asked, what can the complete genome of a boxer tell us? Other than Rover’s desire for fetching sticks.
With the complete genome of a boxer, scientists believe that there could be serious health benefits to humans. Dogs and humans alike are known to suffer from many common diseases like heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer and a whole library of other health related issues. But hope come in the genetic sequence of dogs because of the similarities in disease. It is much easier to identify certain genes in dogs that cause problems because, genes that cause disease in dogs are easier to find than in humans. Mutations in a dozen different genes can cause human disease. In dogs, only one gene mutation can cause a disease, and that same mutated gene causes an identical disease in humans. It is believed that one day genetic engineers will be able to re engineer the specific sequences of genes that cause a disease in order to remove it from the gene pool and thus eliminating the disease. Also it is expected that cancer and other disease treatments for humans will benefited from the dogs genomic sequence
The mapping of genes in other species could not only prove beneficial to them but also humans could improve health care and possibly could possibly hold the key into the treatment and hopefully a cure to serious health problems. In conclusion it looks like we have another reason to call dogs man’s best friend.
References
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0704-doggy_genes.htm
