Our currently funded CGC Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE) project has now entered its final stage as we move towards the end of this year. As always, a huge thank you to everyone who has sent us swabs or completed our epilepsy questionnaire, especially those of you who have organised big batches of cheek swab DNA collection kits! Continue reading
Dr Cathryn Mellersh, who Heads the Canine Genetics Centre (CGC), has been working in the field of canine genetics for more than 30 years. During that time she has, inevitably, amassed a lot of expertise that she puts to effective use both within the CGC and beyond. Cathryn is a member of the Hereditary Disease Committee (HDC) of the (WSAVA) and last week she travelled to Rio de Janeiro, alongside six other members of the committee, to attend the 50th WSAVA congress. The committee includes veterinarians and geneticists from around the world, each contributing specific canine and/or feline expertise. Continue reading
The Canine Genetics Centre is proud to be a part of one of the UK’s leading Veterinary schools. Cambridge Vet school not only matriculates incredible vets year upon year, but they are also at the forefront of some of the best research that is currently happening in Veterinary science. Earlier this week, we were honoured to share some of our own research and to learn about other inspiring projects during the department’s research afternoon. Continue reading
In November of 2024 we shared details of research that the Canine Genetics Centre had started, in collaboration with dog breeders and clinicians in Australia, to identify the genetic cause of an apparently novel inherited neurological disorder in Welsh Springer Spaniels. Continue reading
Geneticists from the Canine Genetics Centre, along with veterinary cardiologists and neurologists from the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, are becoming increasingly concerned by reports of sudden, unexpected deaths in young Labrador Retrievers – often occurring during rest or sleep – in dogs that appeared otherwise healthy. Continue reading
Unique is a word that is often overused. But when it comes to discussing the Canine Genetics Centre’s collection of DNA samples, which dates back to the early 1990s, we are confident that use of the word unique is justified. The CGC is fortunate to have a dedicated member of staff, Bryan McLaughlin, who manages this unique canine resource and has been a member of the CGC for 19 years. Continue reading
The Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK and so it is unsurprising that a number of inherited diseases have been reported over the years in this breed including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Retinal Dysplasia (RD) and Retinopathy with Vitamin E Deficiency (RVED). A DNA test for PRA (prcd) has been available for a long time and so this disease is now, fortunately, very rare in this breed. Very recently, the Canine Genetics Centre has also solved the cause of RVED in this breed and so, with the use of DNA testing, this disease should be easy to eradicate in a few generations. Continue reading
On 1 November, Dr. Cathryn Mellersh, principal investigator at the Canine Genetics Centre, and Karen Wild, clinical animal behaviourist, dog trainer, and author, participated in a series of radio interviews across the UK. The aim was to engage listeners in the science behind Wisdom Panel’s latest DNA testing innovation, which explores the genetic foundations of dog behaviour. Wisdom Panel has launched a pioneering behaviour insights feature within its portfolio of dog DNA tests, making it the only dog DNA service to characterise the genetic links influencing dogs’ individual tendencies – from splooting to anxiety and much more. Continue reading
Our team at the Canine Genetics Centre are often contacted to collaborate with veterinary professionals and owners from around the world when it comes to challenging canine genetic problems. We recently received a communication from a Welsh Springer Spaniel breeder from Australia asking for our expertise regarding two wobbly puppies out of one litter of nine. Continue reading
We have recently published our preliminary genetic investigation of paroxysmal dyskinesia (PxD), a movement disorder, that is prevalent in the numerically small Norwich Terrier breed and for which no cause has been established to date in this breed. Our paper has been published in the peer-reviewed, open access journal, Animal Genetics.
Jenkins CA, De Risio L, Dietschi E, Leeb T, Rytz U, Schawalder P, Schoenebeck JJ, Mellersh CS, Ricketts SL. A preliminary genome-wide association study of paroxysmal dyskinesia in the Norwich Terrier. Anim Genet. 2024 Oct 12. doi: 10.1111/age.13479
