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Genes connected to social ability in dogs
dog with family
“Our findings are the first to reveal genes that might have caused the extreme change in social behaviour that has occurred in dogs since they were domesticated."
DNA links between canine behaviour and human social disorders

New research, undertaken by scientists at Linköping University in Sweden, has revealed a link between genes affecting behaviour in both canines and humans.

Scientists found that four out of five genes affecting dogs’ interaction with humans, also linked to social disabilities in humans.

The new behavioural study observed 500 beagles with similar involvement with humans in their early life. Each dog was presented with an unsolvable problem and filmed to evaluate their behaviour. The mission was to remove a lid from a container, in order to retrieve a treat. The data collected analysed the dog’s inclination to seek contact with a human, upon realisation that the problem was too difficult.

Doctoral student and main author of the paper, Mia Persson, said: “We found a clear association with DNA regions that contain five different genes of interest. Four of the genes are previously known from studies of social disorders in humans, for instance autism and ADHD.”

Scientists looked at DNA from 200 of the dogs involved, exploring a large number of genetic variants, using a method called genome-wide association study (GWAS). The genome-wide study is used to identify common variants within subjects with specific traits. In this case, the dogs that sought human contact more often carried the same genetic variants.
 
Professor of ethology and leader of the research group, Per Jensen, said: “Our findings are the first to reveal genes that might have caused the extreme change in social behaviour that has occurred in dogs since they were domesticated.

“If the associations we have found can be confirmed in other dog breeds, it’s possible that dog behaviour can help us to better understand social disorders in humans.”
 
The research was funded in part by the European Research Council (ERC).
 

 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.