DNA mutates – that’s what it does. If we go back 30,000 years there weren’t any domestic dogs, just wolves. But through a process of DNA mutation and selection humans have created hundreds of different breeds of dog, with all their distinct body sizes, shapes and behaviours. None of this would have been possible if DNA didn’t mutate. Continue reading
The Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) is enormously proud of its publication record. Since the year 2000 the CGC team members have published well over 100 peer-reviewed papers, the majority in open-access scientific journals with global readership. However we are often asked “why publish our results and give away our secrets”, so this week we are going to answer that very question. Continue reading
As part of our CGC Friends scheme, we launched a special yearly award, sponsored by Canine Genetic Testing (CAGT) – the Friends of the CGC Health and Welfare Award. All friends can nominate anybody that they know personally, or know of, that makes a positive impact on the health and/or welfare of dogs. This year’s winner was announced at our recent Research Day as Kathryne Wrigley. Continue reading
On Friday March 21st, 2025, the Canine Genetics Centre team welcomed thirty enthusiastic delegates to the University of Cambridge’s West Hub building for their second Research Day.
Over the course of the day the delegates were treated to talks on the CGC’s inherited eye disease, idiopathic epilepsy and intervertebral disc disease research and how the CGC investigates new and emerging diseases. The talks were well received, with everyone asking lots of questions and really engaging with the researchers about the work that the CGC does. Continue reading
In collaboration with James Oliver, head of ophthalmology at Dick White Referrals, we have been researching retinopathy with vitamin E deficiency (RVED) in the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) for a number of years. It has been a challenging project, so we are over the moon to report that we have identified the variant associated with the disease, and all of our findings have now been published in G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics.
Oliver, J. A. C., Stanbury, K., Schofield, E., McLaughlin, B., & Mellersh, C. S. (2025). A TTPA deletion is associated with retinopathy with vitamin E deficiency in the English Cocker Spaniel dog. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkaf016
Members of the Canine Genetics Centre team have attended Crufts, the World’s greatest dog show, for as long as any of us can remember. Crufts has always been a great opportunity for us to meet up with breeders, owners and Breed Club representatives with whom we have been working closely, to update them on their various research projects and to discuss new potential areas of research. And customers of our DNA testing service, Canine Genetics Testing (CAGT), have also been able to purchase DNA tests at Crufts, typically at a special discounted rate. Continue reading
The Canine Genetics Centre has worked closely with many breeds over the years, to investigate inherited disorders that represent a challenge to their health. In the first of a series of ‘Spotlight’ articles we would like to share the story of how we worked with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier community to understand the underlying genetics of two serious and debilitating diseases and develop DNA tests for them both, thus providing the tools with which to eradicate both these conditions from this much-loved breed. Continue reading
The Canine Genetics Centre (CGC) is excited to announce the launch of a new DNA test through Canine Genetic Testing (CAGT) for Retinopathy with Vitamin E Deficiency (RVED) in Cocker Spaniels. Our discovery, made in collaboration with leading veterinary ophthalmologists, could have significant health implications for Cocker Spaniels, and not only those born in the future but potentially some that are alive today. Continue reading
With the recent launch of the Paradoxical pseudomyotonia (PP) test in the Cocker Spaniel, we have seen an increase in breeders asking whether it is OK to breed with carrier dogs or not. This is not a simple yes/no question and we need to look at a lot more information than just the single CARRIER result that you might have received. Please read more from our experts to help you better understand this area and what is best for your personal breeding program. Continue reading
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
