Genetics and the Shapes of Dogs

In last few centuries subpopulations of dogs have developed into closed populations as a result of differential selection for traits associated with both behavior and appearance. This practice, coupled with small numbers of founders for many breeds has generated a population that is ideal for mapping genes underlying morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility. In today's lecture we will summarize advances regarding the canine genome project and current approaches for finding genes controlling both simple and complex traits. In particular, we will discuss genes controlling body size, fur texture, and leg length, and the implications of these findings for advancing our knowledge regarding disease gene mapping.

Dr Elaine Ostrander, Chief of NHGRI's Cancer Genetics Branch