Articles tagged with Dogs
A genetic variant in Labradors has been identified as a key factor in their obesity-prone nature. The POMC gene affects how the brain recognizes hunger and feelings of fullness after meals.
Researchers at NC State University developed a system that uses sensors in custom dog harnesses to monitor the dog's posture and body language. The algorithm triggered rewards when the dog exhibited the desired behavior, resulting in a 96% accurate rate.
Scientists have identified 91 novel microRNAs in the dog genome, which can help understand their role in regulating gene expression and potentially lead to breakthroughs in human diseases. The discovery provides a significant opportunity for future studies on biomedicine, evolution, and animal domestication.
Researchers found that dogs with atopic dermatitis have a sharp decrease in skin bacterial diversity, leading to impaired barrier function and increased Staphylococcus species. Antibiotic therapy restored normal levels, suggesting a correlation between skin barrier dysfunction and bacterial overgrowth.
A study found that older adults who form strong bonds with their dogs tend to exercise longer and more often, leading to improved physical health. Additionally, dog walking offers a means to socialize with pet owners and others, making it an accessible way for seniors to stay active and connected.
A surface mutation in canine parvovirus (CPV) allows it to infect hosts of different species, including wild forest-dwelling animals like raccoons. This critical step increases the virus's ability to spread.
Research suggests that bilingual speakers can avoid language-switching costs by consistently using the same language throughout a conversation or task. In experiments, participants were shown to respond faster when they stuck with a language rather than switching mid-sentence.
Researchers compare odor of human remains with dead animals to identify signature smells. They hope an artificial nose can help rescuers find bodies and aid law enforcement search for homicide victims.
The study found that registration of small and medium breeds increased by 4.2% and 5.3% relative to large breeds over a 28-year period. Brachycephalic breeds, such as pugs and bulldogs, are increasingly popular due to their short, wide heads, which may be linked to changes in human lifestyle and living space.
Researchers from the University of Surrey developed a breeding strategy to reduce the risk of Chiari malformation in toy dogs. By cross-breeding Brussels Griffons with Australian Terriers, they created puppies with reduced symptoms of the debilitating condition, which affects 1 in 1280 humans.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that pit bulls wait three times longer to be adopted from shelters than lookalike breeds without the label. The 'pit bull' breed is often negatively perceived, leading to lower adoptability.
Research published in Evolutionary Biology has found that dingoes are resistant to changes in their skull shape resulting from cross-breeding with domestic dogs. The study used CT scans and 3D shape analyses to determine that hybrid skulls are indistinguishable from those of pure dingoes.
Reported dog attacks on guide dogs in the UK rose from an average of three per month in 2010 to eleven attacks per month in 2015. Guide Dogs' stock were injured in 43% of attacks, with veterinary costs estimated at £34,514.30.
Researchers identified genetic pathways exacerbating severe canine compulsive disorder in Doberman pinschers, sharing behavioral hallmarks with human OCD. The discovery could lead to better therapies for obsessive compulsive disorder in people, as serotonin receptor genes and stress tolerance loci were found to be strongly correlated.
A team of scientists tracked radio-tagged coconut rhinoceros beetles on Guam to locate hidden breeding sites. The study found that the beetles often congregated around damaged palm trees, suggesting thousands of new breeding sites may exist in the islands' jungles.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a new biological technique for hip joint replacement that uses larger, size-matched grafts with beveled edges to provide longer-lasting repair. The study shows that these larger grafts maintain joint viability and structural integrity throughout the six-month study period.
A new study by the University of Florida found that shelter staff frequently misidentify dog breeds based on appearance, which can lead to negative outcomes for the dogs. The study evaluated DNA profiles and visual identification, finding limited agreement among staff members.
A PLOS ONE study found that inhibitory control affects physical problem-solving in pet dogs. The ability to 'wait-for-treat' was identified as a key factor in their problem-solving performance.
Rescue teams can improve their chances of finding survivors by understanding the scent profile of decomposition. Researchers identified 105 volatile organic compounds in pig carcasses, changing drastically at the 43-hour mark.
A national review suggests studying cancer in dogs can inform new drug therapeutics and accelerate human treatment, saving time and costs. The study highlights the genetic similarities between canine and human cancers, offering new targets for improving treatments.
A study by Lisa Wallis and Friederike Range found that older Border Collies perform slower in tasks requiring learning, logical reasoning, and cognitive flexibility. However, the dogs' long-term memory for touchscreen stimuli remained unaffected by age.
A new review by the University of Liverpool found that approximately one in four reported cattle attacks in the UK were fatal and involved dogs. Dog owners are advised to control their pets to avoid interactions with cattle, suggesting letting them off the lead as a way to prevent attacks.
A new smartphone app has enabled vets to vaccinate 70% of the dog population in Ranchi, India, minimizing the risk of rabies transmission. The app tracks vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs, allowing for targeted vaccination efforts.
Researchers have successfully used gene therapy to correct a rare bleeding disorder, factor VII deficiency, in dogs. The treatment showed long-term safety and efficacy, with treated dogs expressing therapeutic levels of clotting factor VII.
A recent study from the University of Helsinki reveals that dogs systematically view facial expressions like humans, prioritizing eyes and altering their behavior in threatening situations. This research supports Darwin's theory on shared evolutionary roots for animal emotions.
A UCLA-led study analyzed genome sequences of wolves, wild dogs, and domesticated dogs to find that domestication may have led to a rise in harmful genetic changes. This could be due to temporary population bottlenecks during breeding for desirable traits.
Researchers have identified a modifier gene for copper toxicosis in Labradors, which could lead to early detection and treatment of Wilson disease. Mutations in ATP7A protect against hepatic copper accumulation, suggesting antagonistic roles with ATP7B.
A new study suggests that as early as 3 years old, toddlers begin to grasp the fundamental difference between a written word and a drawing. The research indicates that this understanding could be an important early indicator for children who may need extra help with reading lessons.
A $30,000 donation will support research into dogs and children with cancer at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), following an 8-year-old girl's battle with cancer. Brooke Hester's genomic analysis of canine cancer could help develop new therapies for children with cancer.
Researchers from Monash University have developed a new image modulation technique called SWIFT to study how the brain categorizes objects. The study found that SWIFT can stimulate specific neural activity patterns in the brain, enabling greater understanding of human visual processing and its potential applications.
A study by Friederike Range and colleagues found that dogs donated food to familiar partners more often than to unfamiliar ones. The researchers also discovered that the degree of familiarity among the dogs influenced this behavior, with prosocial behavior exhibited less frequently towards unfamiliar dogs.
Dogs drink by accelerating their tongues to create a water column, whereas cats use steady inertia. Researchers used photography and laboratory simulations to study dog lapping, finding that dogs' sloppy-looking actions are high-speed movements optimizing fluid acquisition.
For the first time, a litter of puppies was born through in vitro fertilization, thanks to work by Cornell University researchers. The breakthrough enables conserving endangered canid species and study genetic diseases, as dogs share more than 350 similar disorders with humans.
Researchers analyzed canine cell lines to understand cancer development and metastasis, identifying key gene switches that could be targeted with novel therapeutics. The study provides a basis for further research into personalized medicine for dogs with cancer.
A study in Tanzania found that using incentives increased dog vaccination turnout by 34 dogs per village, while a household questionnaire underestimated coverage by 6.6%. The researchers recommend using incentives and the questionnaire as a reliable method to assess post-vaccination coverage.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a device that monitors a guide dog's breathing and heart rate, sharing the information with its handler to detect stress or anxiety. The technology aims to prevent early retirement of guide dogs by providing real-time health insights.
Researchers have identified the Jagged1 gene as a potential target for therapies to combat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. Increasing expression of JAG1 was shown to prevent the development of degenerative disease in zebrafish models.
Researchers found that injecting viruses carrying gene codes into the brain's ventricles can slow down Batten disease progression. The treatment improved symptoms and reduced damage caused by the disease in dogs with a similar disorder.
Researchers have developed a gene therapy approach that delays symptoms and extends lifespan in dogs with a comparable disease to Batten disease. The treatment involves delivering a working version of a gene to produce a key enzyme, resulting in striking clinical improvements and slowed disease progression.
Researchers have uncovered fossils of seven giant rat species in East Timor, with the largest weighing around 5 kilos. The discovery sheds light on human migration and its impact on ecosystems, as humans are believed to have driven the rats to extinction around 1,000 years ago.
A Swedish study found that children growing up with dogs have a lower risk of developing asthma, with a 15% reduction compared to those without dogs. The study analyzed over one million children and controlled for confounding factors.
A Johns Hopkins University research team has validated a theory on the brain's mechanism of learning, finding that 'eligibility traces' effectively tag neural synapses activated by stimuli, linking actions with rewards. This discovery could enhance teaching methods and lead to treatments for cognitive problems.
A multi-center trial found that therapy dogs can reduce anxiety levels and improve heart rate stability in children with cancer, as well as their parents. The study provides the first solid data on the psychosocial benefits of animal-assisted interventions for pediatric cancer patients.
Researchers successfully treated dogs with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy using gene therapy, developing a miniature version of the dystrophin protein that protects all muscles. The treatment uses a common virus to deliver the gene, which has shown no symptoms in human bodies and is being planned for human clinical trials.
A study funded by the NIH has shown that gene therapy can preserve vision in dogs with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment halted disease-associated cell death and preserved photoreceptor structure, improving visual performance under dim light conditions. Further research is needed to assess its safety and potential toxicity...
A Penn study shows that gene therapy can cure canine X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, even when treatment is started at mid- or late-stage disease. The treatment successfully halted photoreceptor cell loss and maintained vision in dogs for over three years.
Researchers are working on a multi-year project to help end Internet trickery by verifying true network owners and legitimate traffic paths. The team will deploy new protocols such as RPKI, updating router software and adding servers to the routing infrastructure.
A new study published in Nature Neuroscience found that individuals with autism spectrum disorder struggle to transfer learned knowledge to new contexts when trained through repetition. In contrast, breaks in repetition allow autistic individuals to learn efficiently and generalize, promoting broader concept understanding.
Researchers at MIT develop a new way of doing machine learning that enables semantically related concepts to reinforce each other. In experiments, their system outperformed conventional training methods in predicting Flickr tags and even when considering semantically similar tags.
Researchers characterized two genetic mutations linked to achromatopsia in dogs and found that they destabilized molecular channels essential to light signal transduction. The findings provide new insights into the molecular cause of blindness and present opportunities for conducting preclinical assessments of curative gene therapy.
Researchers discovered that genetic background affects mutations in lymphoma tumors across different dog breeds. The study identifies breed-specific genes and molecular subtypes, offering a unique model for understanding how genetics influence cancer development.
Kolltan Pharmaceuticals presents substantial tumor shrinkage with KTN0158 in dogs with spontaneous mast cell tumors, with favorable results from non-clinical toxicology studies. The company plans to file an IND for the drug candidate in oncology this year.
A study by Duke University analyzed data from 500 citizen scientists worldwide, who played the same games as researchers use in labs. The results showed that dogs rely on memory over sense of smell to solve problems. The dataset also revealed unique cognitive skills among dogs, including communication and problem-solving abilities.
A study by Dr. Raffaella Leoci and colleagues found that a specific ultrasound treatment regime can permanently sterilize male dogs without affecting testosterone levels. The method involves three applications of ultrasound at 1 MHz, lasting five minutes, and resulted in significant reduction in testicular volume and degeneration.
A team of researchers at Penn Vet has identified a form of congenital night blindness in dogs, which shares similarities with human forms of the condition. The discovery may lead to the development of gene therapy to correct the dysfunction in both humans and dogs.
The Parsemus Foundation has awarded the second round of the Timmy Prize to three winners who contributed substantial information on the use of Calchlorin nonsurgical sterilant. The data sharing prize aims to increase understanding of the method's effectiveness and refine its methodology.
A new study proposes a logical classification scheme for dogs and wolves, revealing that domestic dogs are descendants of two interbred species: an extinct Asian wild dog and the grey wolf. This finding has implications for wolf conservation, as some hybrids have evolved into full species.
A team of astronomers discovered 48 Dust Obscured Galaxies (DOGs) using the Hyper Suprime-Cam instrument on the Subaru Telescope. These rare galaxies are thought to harbor rapidly growing black holes, providing insights into the co-evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes.
Researchers are exploring clinical trials on dogs with naturally occurring cancer to develop new treatments for humans. By studying the genetic basis of canine tumors, scientists hope to gain valuable insights into human cancer treatment.
Researchers from Penn and Baylor have precisely quantified the loss of insulin-producing beta cells in dogs with diabetes, revealing a key similarity with human type I diabetes. The study also identifies features unique to canine diabetes, highlighting potential insights into treating human patients.