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SALT LAKE CITY – A study of genetic mutations in dogs has found the gene that determines canines, like humans, can develop obsessive compulsive disorder.
Researchers at Broad Institute, which partners with MIT, Harvard University and Harvard-affiliated hospitals, have been looking at canine genetics since 2005 and most recently discovered the gene responsible for Doberman Pinschers’ disposition for OCD.
DogDNA project scientists are looking at the dogs with the hope of understanding genetic markers that could indicate a predisposition to diseases and debilitating conditions in humans. Finding those genes are much easier in dogs than in humans.
“In human studies, you have to enroll thousands of people and look at millions of SNPs, or markers in the genome, to find areas of disease mutation,” said Elinor Karlsson, a Broad associate researcher associated with the DogDNA project. “In some cases in dogs, we can find what we’re looking for in just 20K SNPs for a really simple disease. In a more complex disease like cancer, you only need about 200,000 SNPs and about 200 dogs. It is a much simpler, more powerful platform for finding these genes.”
Understanding the functions of DNA mutations in purebred dogs can lead to finding similar pathways in humans. In other words, man’s best friend may help find treatment for man’s ailments.
In their most recent studies, Broad researchers looked at psychiatric illness in dogs, finding a gene in 140 Doberman Pinschers for canine compulsive order – the doggy version of OCD. The gene is similar to that of autism in humans, Karlsson said.
When treated using OCD drugs, the dogs with CCO responded with approximately the same success rate as humans.
Broad is sequencing the genes linked to OCD, and is expanding the study to include other breeds.
The team continues its research by asking for more samples from purebred dogs.
