Doggy Genes…or Canine Genetics to be Proper

I recently read an interesting series of articles about canine genetics. There is a new test available for dogs to determine their genetic makeup. Its primary purpose is to identify the heritage of mixed breed dogs. Why would we care about the breeds that were mixed together to make our adorable Heinz 57 variety dog? Well, we might want to understand which diseases this mixed breed is most likely to suffer from. There are some diseases, such as certain types of cancer, that individual breeds are more likely to suffer from than other breeds. Knowing what breeds make up an individual dog will help veterinarians and pet owners choose the most appropriate screening exams in order to detect problems early, usually resulting in more successful treatment.

Another purpose behind the test is so that pet owners can identify the different personalities that might be at work in their mixed breed dog. This may not be important to most pet owners, but some pet owners that are interested in why their dog is behaving a certain way might be willing to spend the money to see if there is a gene-based answer.

As scientists work hard to unlock the information contained in the genetic code of all species, they are creating some interesting and potentially useful technologies.