<p>The earliest ancestors of golden retrievers were chosen for their yellow coat and patient personality, but these desired traits came with an unfortunate side effect: a genetic predisposition to cancer, which ends up claiming the life of up to 63 percent of these dogs, according to one study. Golden retrievers are far from alone. The selection process that has given dogs such appealing, humanlike behaviors has also given many breeds humanlike genetic diseases. </p><div class="vert-display-toggle collapsible relative flex flex-col items-center "><div class="vert-unit mt-4 mb-3 top-20"><div ad-type="mobile-desktop" class="ad-wrapper vert min-h-boombox flex items-start justify-center" data-ad-mapping="inline" data-ad-slot="Discover/inline-ad" id="div-inline-ad-0"></div></div><span aria-label="Advertisement" class="text-ad mt-1 text-[11px] uppercase">Advertisement</span></div><p>With the recent decoding of the complete dog genome, this coincidence could aid the search for cures to many devastating types of illness. Humans have such diverse genetic makeups that it is difficult to pin down the common DNA flaws among a group of people. But in a line of purebred dogs, selected for their similarity over dozens of generations, identifying a corresponding gene is as easy as picking out a Chihuahua in a lineup of Saint Bernards. Diseases that researchers are focusing on include:</p><p>CHOW CHOW <strong>gastric cancer</strong></p><div data-embedid="dcfb67aa-fdf4-4a19-b4c7-75c497a8de9c" id="insticator-embed-temp"></div><p>SAMOYED <strong>diabetes</strong></p><p>BEAGLE <strong>abrmal blood clotting</strong></p><p>BASSET HOUND <strong>"bubble boy" disease</strong></p><p>DACHSHUND <strong>epilepsy</strong></p><p>DOBERMAN PINSCHER <strong>narcolepsy</strong></p><p>GOLDEN RETRIEVER <strong>lymphoma</strong></p>

March 2006

The March 2006 issue of Discover Magazine

Are Viruses the Mother of All Like?

Discover the alarming cancer predisposition in golden retrievers due to selective breeding and its impact on canine health issues.

Planet Earth

A Doctor's Best Friend

Article

News

Susan Kruglinski

Science

The earliest ancestors of golden retrievers were chosen for their yellow coat and patient personality, but these desired traits came with an unfortunate side effect: a genetic predisposition to cancer, which ends up claiming the life of up to 63 percent of these dogs, according to one study. Golden retrievers are far from alone. The selection process that has given dogs such appealing, humanlike behaviors has also given many breeds humanlike genetic diseases. With the recent decoding of the complete dog genome, this coincidence could aid the search for cures to many devastating types of illness. Humans have such diverse genetic makeups that it is difficult to pin down the common DNA flaws among a group of people. But in a line of purebred dogs, selected for their similarity over dozens of generations, identifying a corresponding gene is as easy as picking out a Chihuahua in a lineup of Saint Bernards. Diseases that researchers are focusing on include: CHOW CHOW gastric cancer SAMOYED diabetes BEAGLE abrmal blood clotting BASSET HOUND "bubble boy" disease DACHSHUND epilepsy DOBERMAN PINSCHER narcolepsy GOLDEN RETRIEVER lymphoma

Discover Magazine’s award-winning journalism inspires and informs, delivering thought-provoking content that sparks meaningful conversations. With a focus on groundbreaking developments in science, technology, and the world around us, Discover highlights the impact of these innovations on our daily lives.

医生最好的朋友

新闻简报

苏珊·克鲁格林斯基

发表于

病毒是万物之母吗？

泰国发现新的科学怪人蜘蛛，一半雄性一半雌性

这种动物母亲是唯一有记录的产下非同种后代的个体

频繁的火山喷发可以消灭植物物种，但也有助于它们进化和繁荣

侏儒海马失去了长吻，这使它们存活了1800万年

长颈鹿脖子长且有斑点，而且显然是四个独立的物种

大白鲨的DNA差异引发了一个未解之谜

多刺的星形生物表明深海是一条“连通的高速公路”

在为蚁后加冕时，一切都取决于遗传

闪光可能引导萤火虫交配，但气味“敲定交易”

这些古老的狗在格陵兰拉雪橇已近1000年

挪威旅鼠被确认为地球上最新的哺乳动物物种之一

早期农业社会与美洲的古老犬类建立了联系

古代马化石揭示了晚更新世的迁徙模式

北部白犀牛基因组可能有助于拯救该物种免于灭绝

由于基因原因，狗的寿命不如其他哺乳动物长

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