Short, curly, shaggy, … Whatever your dog's coat depends on the combination of only three genes , according to a study published today in the journal Science .
Its authors, from the National Human Genome Research Institute, studied DNA variations in more than 1,000 dogs of 80 different breeds, and then compared the results with descriptions of different types of fur. The data showed that everything depended on the RSPO2, FGF5 and KRT71 genes . For example, purebred short-haired dogs have the same three genes as the wolves from which they are descended. Long-haired breeds, such as golden retrievers , have an alteration in the FGF5 gene. And long-haired, bearded dogs , such as the bearded collie, show variations in both the FGF5 and RSPO2 genes.
According to Elaine A. Ostrander, a co-author of the study, the approach used could help "identify multiple genes involved in complex human afflictions, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity." the way we identify the genes responsible for canine fur and discover how they interact, "Ostrander said.
