In 2019, 'King' the Wire Fox Terrier won the Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Garden, having competed against 2,800 dogs from 203 breeds. The sheer number of dog breeds points toward the major role played by genetics in shaping such variation in dogs.
In a new study, researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) have generated the largest catalog of genetic variants associated with physical traits for domesticated dog breeds. The findings, published in Nature Communication, will help researchers assess if variants associated with dog body structure, behavior and life span could also be implicated in related human diseases.
"This study included data from more than 722 dogs and 144 modern breeds," says Dr. Ostrander, NIH Distinguished Investigator and senior author of the paper. "Through the results, we've learned some of the fascinating genetics behind the variability observed in the world's 450 dog breeds."
After humans initially selected for specific traits during dog breeding centuries ago, dogs have since formed traits and characteristics spontaneously over time. Jocelyn Plassais, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Ostrander's laboratory and lead author of the study explained that dogs naturally develop disorders that are common to humans, such as various forms cancers, infections and even diabetes. In addition, a vast number of regions within the dog genome remain similar to the human genome. Thus, dog genomes can provide insight into the biological mechanisms of human health and disease.
The researchers used whole genome sequencing and genome-wide association studies to identify genomic variants associated with sixteen observable characteristics. Most of the blood samples from dogs were taken via The Dog Genome Project, a citizen science initiative that relies on donations from motivated dog owners.
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