This week we turn our attention to another of our valuable team members, our Bioinformatician and “crazy dog lady”, Ellen Schofield. Ellen joined our group back in 2016 when we were still based at the Animal Health Trust and moved with the team to Cambridge in 2021. We talked to Ellen about her work, and learn about how she came to find a job that, simply put, seems made for her! Continue reading
The CGC’s DNA sample collection is unique. Developed over the last quarter of a century, and comprising DNA samples from over 42,000 different dogs, it has been used to identify over 30 different mutations that cause inherited diseases in well over 40 different breeds. But beyond its historic use, the CGC’s sample collection is the foundation for all the CGC’s current research projects, including our investigations of inherited eye diseases, idiopathic epilepsy and intervertebral disc disease. 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
A couple of weeks ago Bryan gave you an overview on our sample database, but how do we get from those samples to creating a DNA test for breeders to use? Well, it’s a long process and this week we are going to explain how we use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to find plausible candidate variants which are then taken into our lab for validation. Continue reading
The CGC’s research database currently consists of 41,717 samples from 215 dog breeds collected since the early 1990s for the purpose of tackling inherited canine diseases. Roughly three quarters of sample contributions have come from UK-based donors, and the remaining quarter from 46 countries around the world. Alongside the data generated by the group over the years, our sample collection is a key resource that enables researchers to determine genetic variants responsible for heritable diseases in dogs. Continue reading
