Louie enrolls at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Irish Wolfhound - All About Louie | |||
Written by Hugh McManus | |||
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Louie has enrolled in the at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology for an important research program in Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Well, not quite. He will have a blood sample drawn which will be sent in for study. The research goal is to determine a possible genetic link with the disease. Louie was diagosed with DM in early 2007. The ailment is more closely associated with breeds like the German Shepherd and isn't that common in the Irish Wolfhound, so having a sample from an Irish Wolfhound is a help to the study. You can read more about the study for Degenerative Myelopathy and a host of other genetic diseases at www.dogDNA.org. Why Participating in these Canine Genetic Studies MattersGenes are found in the DNA; many diseases occur because of a faulty gene. Now that the canine DNA has been mapped, scientists are interested in comparing the DNA of a dog with a known genetic ailment against their database of presumably healthy animals. In this way, researchers hope to identify the gene associated with the particular disease. Researchers can get a complete map of your dog's DNA from a small sample of blood. Your veterinarian can help supply this sample. Once the abnormal gene is identified, the next step is to determine the mechanism--the discrete steps--that lead from a genetic abnormality to the expression of the disease in an otherwise healthy animal. When that mechanism is determined, then scientists can work on a way to interrupt the progress of a disease by shutting down one of the miscreant steps. As long as this action doesn't interfere with anything else in the body, then they've found a cure. It takes time and effort, but genetic diseases are finally starting to get a fair fight as scientist develop an arsenal of techniques and methods to study them! Keep in mind that once these mechanisms are elucidated, they could have import in the link between genes and disease in all animals, including humans. The genes work is similar in pretty much all organisms. There are no guarantees that the investigation will have benefits in humans, but participating in these studies by donating a sample of your dog's blood could possibly have wider ramifications and benefits than is currently realized. Research ultimately helps us all. On the next page, you will find a list of ailments under investigation and the breeds that are of the most interest. If you can, please help. At the end of the document, you will find a link to more information and an e-mail address to send questions. CancersCancer affects 30-50% of all dogs. A higher incidence in certain breeds suggests that genetic risk factors exist and can be identified. Many dog cancers are clinically similar to human cancers, including several that we are working on. Osteosarcoma (Bone cancer)
Hemangiosarcoma
Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)
Lymphoma
Mammary tumors
Melanoma (skin cancer)
Immunological Diseases:Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF)
Addison’s disease
Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
White coat color
Dermoid sinus (DS)
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Juvenile Renal Dysplasia (JRD)
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Please click on this link for information on donating a sample. At this site you will also get more valuable information about the study. If you have questions, please contact the study at the address below.
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