The Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) is excited to announce the launch of a new DNA test, for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) in the English Shepherd Dog, a breed that has shared ancestry with the Border Collie, the Rough Collie and the Australian Shepherd. Continue reading
Author: Canine Genetics Centre
Introducing Bruno Lopes – PhD student based in the Canine Genetics Centre
We would like to introduce you to Bruno Lopes. Bruno is a veterinary neurologist, from Southfields Veterinary Specialists, who has recently started studying for a PhD on a part-time basis at Cambridge University Vet School. Bruno, who will be based within the Canine Genetics Centre, will be investigating the genetics of intervertebral disc diseases in several breeds of dog, the aim being to improve our understanding of the genetics of this complex, debilitating disease that affects some of the UK’s most popular breeds. Continue reading
Update on Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonds
We are still trying to identify the genetic change that causes Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in the Keeshond. It is proving to be much more challenging than initially anticipated, which may explain, at least in part, why the original research was never completed and published.
As part of the original Give a Dog a Genome project, we used short-read based Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to sequence a PHPT case and an epilepsy case (as a PHPT control). We have sequenced a further case and a progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) case as a control, giving us two cases and two controls. These data have enabled us to independently identify the chromosome that harbours the causative genetic mutation for PHPT, however we have been unable to precise variant.
We have recently been awarded a small grant from CamVet to undertake long-read sequencing of the candidate region in an attempt to identify additional variants. Preliminary data suggests that the region of interest is highly structurally complex and very difficult to interrogate, but sequencing and data analysis is ongoing.
Epilepsy programme update
Alongside our current genetic investigations of idiopathic epilepsy in the Border Collie and Italian Spinone, we are embarking on an exciting new study starting this year to investigate the genetics of epilepsy in five new breeds – the Beagle, English Springer Spaniel, Giant Schnauzer, Hungarian Vizsla and Irish Setter. Continue reading
Mutation responsible for multiocular defect in the Old English Sheepdog identified
In 2017, as part of the Give a Dog a Genome project, we sequenced the genome of an Old English Sheepdog (OES) that had been diagnosed with hereditary cataracts under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme. This was the start of a project that turned out to be a lot more complex than we initially thought it would be, and that was disrupted by both covid and our move from the Animal Health Trust to the University of Cambridge, but that we finally concluded at the end of last year. Continue reading
Canine Genetics Research Day
The Kennel Club Genetics Centre (KCGC) held a first Research Day on Friday 22 September 2023 at the University of Cambridge’s West Hub facility. It was the first such day we have hosted since the demise of the Animal Health Trust and subsequently joining the University of Cambridge in 2021.
The event was attended by 44 representatives of 29 breeds. Thank you to each of you you made the journey to Cambridge to see us. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Exercise induced paroxysmal movement disorder in Weimaraners
The Kennel Club Genetics Centre has an archive of over 40,000 DNA samples that has been collected over decades. This collection, which contains DNA from dogs of nearly two hundred different breeds of dog, has played a central role in all the KCGC’s successful research projects. But it has also contributed to research done by teams of researchers from other institutions. Continue reading
Multiocular defect in Old English Sheepdogs
In recent years multiple dogs of the Old English Sheepdog (OES) breed have been diagnosed with an ocular (eye) disease that can affect multiple parts of the eye and is therefore known as multiocular defect (MOD). Most affected dogs suffer from cataracts, but additional abnormalities can include any of the following:
- microphakia (small lens),
- lens coloboma (a hole in the lens),
- macrophthalmos (enlarged globe),
- retinal detachment,
- vitreopathy and
- retinal degeneration
Give a Dog a Genome Update – June 2021
Give a Dog a Genome (GDG), launched in 2016, was an ambitious project aimed initially at sequencing the entire genomes of 50 dogs of 50 different breeds. The genome bank was created by researchers working in the Kennel Club Genetics Centre (KCGC), to facilitate the identification of genetic variants that underpin painful, blinding and debilitating inherited canine disorders. Give a Dog a Genome was jointly funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and individual breed communities.
When Give a Dog a Genome was launched the KCGC was based at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) but following the permanent closure of the AHT in July 2020, the KCGC has now relocated to the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Continue reading
