Event Title
The Genetics of Man's Best Friend
Department
Biology
Start Date
11-4-2015 11:30 AM
End Date
11-4-2015 12:30 PM
Description
Stroll by a local park or stop by a veterinarian’s office, and you will see dogs of all shapes, sizes and colors. The tremendous amount of physical variation between dogs is the result of two centuries of carefully controlled breeding, in which humans have selected special characteristics for each breed. While this selection process has resulted in golden retrievers that are consistently friendly and spaniels that excel at hunting, it has also left many breeds susceptible to serious genetic disorders. In this class, we will explore how recent advances in genetics have allowed biologists to identify the mutations that cause canine disease and learn how this knowledge is increasingly informing human health.
The Genetics of Man's Best Friend
Stroll by a local park or stop by a veterinarian’s office, and you will see dogs of all shapes, sizes and colors. The tremendous amount of physical variation between dogs is the result of two centuries of carefully controlled breeding, in which humans have selected special characteristics for each breed. While this selection process has resulted in golden retrievers that are consistently friendly and spaniels that excel at hunting, it has also left many breeds susceptible to serious genetic disorders. In this class, we will explore how recent advances in genetics have allowed biologists to identify the mutations that cause canine disease and learn how this knowledge is increasingly informing human health.