Genetic Diversity of Canine Olfactory Receptors
Author Information
Author(s): Robin Stéphanie, Tacher Sandrine, Rimbault Maud, Vaysse Amaury, Dréano Stéphane, André Catherine, Hitte Christophe, Galibert Francis
Primary Institution: Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6061, Université de Rennes 1
Hypothesis
Do different dog breeds have varying genetic alleles that affect their ability to detect odors?
Conclusion
The study found a high level of genetic polymorphism in olfactory receptor genes among dog breeds, which may influence their olfactory capabilities.
Supporting Evidence
- More than 50% of olfactory receptor genes were found to have a large number of SNP.
- 25% of SNP were breed-specific, indicating genetic diversity among breeds.
- 47% of SNP induced amino-acid changes, suggesting functional implications for olfactory receptors.
Takeaway
This study looked at the genes that help dogs smell and found that different breeds have different versions of these genes, which might explain why some dogs are better at sniffing things out than others.
Methodology
The researchers sequenced 109 olfactory receptor genes in 48 dogs from six different breeds to analyze genetic diversity.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the selection of specific breeds known for their olfactory abilities.
Limitations
The study focused only on a limited number of breeds and genes, which may not represent the entire canine population.
Participant Demographics
48 dogs from six breeds: German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, Greyhound, and Pekingese.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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