It's all in the DNA...
DNA can be stable for tens of thousands of years, so it has been useful for establishing the history of the domestication of dogs.
At a special Petsavers press conference at the BSAVA Congress, Dr Richard Mellanby from the University of Edinburgh described his work, alongside forensic experts from non-veterinary fields, on genetic fingerprinting.
He said the primary purpose of his work was to build a DNA-based database to assist in investigation of dogs that have been involved in – or are victims of – crime or abuse. "It is a very important resource and has many different spin offs," he said. "For instance, we have discovered the genetic diversity of Jack Russell terriers."
It was fascinating to learn that this has been used subsequently to work out the breed of dog found on board the Tudor ship, Mary Rose, by extracting DNA from its tooth. It was basically a Jack Russell type, probably to keep rats down on board.
DNA can be stable for tens of thousands of years, so it has been useful for establishing the history of the domestication of dogs. Richard and his team are also using the information to learn more about the genetics of animal disease and to develop procedures to pre-empt different clinical conditions. This ties in with the aims of Petsavers to promote the health and longevity of pet animals.
The focus now is on why some individuals appear to be more susceptible to disease than others and to discover the influence of lifestyle on outcomes. Although the current emphasis is on the canine genome, there is an intention to do similar work in cats.
Richard said that the support of Petsavers had been critical in starting what was initially a piece of niche research, which has subsequently attracted other significant funders. He emphasised that Petsavers grants often do kick start small, seed corn projects that provide the first step in the careers of young veterinary researchers.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
