Genetic Basis For Canine Compulsive Behaviour

[sandgrubber]

http://www.physorg.com/news180722905.html

extract from middle of article . . . beginning describes canine compulsive behaviour and its breed associations

Now, Lindblad-Toh, Karlsson and their colleagues, including Nicholas Dodman at Tufts University and Edward Ginns at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, have taken a first step toward . . . identifying a gene associated with CCD. The work was published online December 22 [2009] in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

The researchers explored the genetic basis of CCD by focusing on the Doberman pincher breed. The manifestations of CCD, including flank sucking, are not only common in the breed, but they are also easily distinguishable: dogs either do it or they don't. That facilitated the researchers' task of identifying affected dogs, making it possible to collect a sufficient number of DNA samples for study.

With roughly 150 affected and unaffected dogs, the researchers analyzed the DNA samples using a technique known as genome-wide association, which scans thousands of genetic markers — called SNPs or single nucleotide polymorphisms — throughout the genome to identify ones that are more common in affected dogs compared to in unaffected ones. Those high frequency markers act as signposts for genes and other key functional genomic elements that increase a dog's risk of developing the disorder.

[Esta]

could this explain the raging cockers and the shadow- herding border collies I know?

[sandgrubber]

could this explain the raging cockers and the shadow- herding border collies I know?

From a science perspective: No. It only indicates that sucking behavior in Dobermans has a genetic basis and identifies where that basis is coded. This adds substance to the hypothesis that other compulsive behaviours are hereditary, and is likely to inspire/stimulate further research. Experiments would have to be done on raging vs non raging cockers and shadow-herding vs. non shadow-herding BC's to put a scientific basis to speculations about other compulsive or otherwise abnormal behavioural patterns. It may be that other problem behaviours are hereditary or have hereditary tencencies, but I don't think, at this point, there's anything to suggest that they are all linked to the same bit of genetic coding.