Scientists at Stanford University have finally solved a longtime mystery in dog breeding: what determines coat color. Although researchers have known since the early 20th century that most animals share the same means of determining coat color, it became apparent in the 1950s that dogs were special.
By swabbing the inner cheeks of hundreds of dogs and analyzing the DNA in the samples a team of researchers led by genetics professor Greg Barsh, MD, PhD, has isolated the gene. It turns out to be a part of a protein family that was previously believed to fight infections. For the last 15 years, Dr. Barsh and his team have studied the pathway of the protein that also determines skin color, stress adaptation and weight regulation. Their findings were published in the November issue of Science.
So what does this discovery mean to dog breeders? I asked Lisa Peterson of the American Kennel Club, “At this point, I don’t see how it will really come into play in dog breeding,” she told me. “What I find most exciting is the way in which these discoveries are used to help people. Many discoveries made in dogs lead to huge discoveries that not only help eliminate diseases in dogs but also in people.”
Earlier this year, a team of scientists at the National Institute of Health made another genetic discovery in dogs, isolating the gene that determines size in small dogs. Findings such as these give scientists information that they use in many areas of human health, including fighting cancer and other diseases.
But won’t knowing the gene for coat color affect the way we breed dogs? “The dogs I breed, Norwegian Elkhounds, don’t vary in color; they all come out grey and black,” continued Peterson, echoing the sentiments of many that most of the “selective breeding” we do (in dogs and people) is done the old fashioned way – by choosing with whom we will mate (or mate our dogs).
Simply identifying the gene does not mean that we can modify it. And we’re certainly a long way from choosing coat color genetically. But by funding studies such as these, we can open doors to health and other discoveries that create a healthier future for our dogs and for us.
For more information on studies involving dog and human health, visit the AKC’s website at: akcchf.org.
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