The NHGRI Dog Genome Project

The NHGRI Dog Genome Project is driven by citizen science and involves the participation of thousands of enthusiastic dog owners. All DNA samples are collected from pet dogs and voluntarily submitted by owners and veterinarians. We do not house, breed, or conduct experiments on dogs.

The NHGRI Dog Genome Project is run by Elaine Ostrander's Laboratory at NIH and focuses on the genetics of health and body structure in the domestic dog. We are particularly interested in the variation represented in individual dog breeds, which allows us to focus on locating genes involved in both canine cancer and the morphologic traits. Our research yields not only an understanding of how genes interact to create the modern dog breeds we see today and how we can keep our four-legged friends happy and healthy, but also insight into the health and disease of their two-legged caregivers.

Because of the breed structure, dogs display extensive variation in nearly all traits from size to coat color to behavior. There are giant and toy breeds; breeds with curly coats and those with straight coats; breeds with short snouts and those with longer snouts. Did you know overall body size varies forty-fold between large and little breeds? Modern dog breeds offer a great opportunity to understand the genetic basis of body plans and size in mammals.

In addition to differences in physical traits, breeds vary in disease risk. More than 350 inherited diseases have been described in domestic dogs, many of which predominate in a single breed or a small group of breeds. The NHGRI Dog Genome Project is working to find DNA variants that are associated with disease to help reduce their occurrence in affected breeds. Since many diseases in dogs are similar to disorders in humans, our findings will likely provide insight and new avenues of research for human health as well.

Would you like to interact with researchers at the NHGRI Dog Genome Project? We are always interested in the voluntary submission of DNA samples from all types of dogs as we have multiple studies underway at all times. We suggest you start by clicking through the material on this site and visiting our Facebook page.

You also can see our most recent publications, learn about events and/or dog shows we're attending, see research study plans, or ask questions to the experts in the lab.

Our Facebook page always has room for you to post pictures of your canine companions! Remember to keep it tasteful, and get permission to post pictures of dogs you do not own.

External links to non-federal sites does not constitute an endorsement by NIH or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site's privacy policy when you follow the link.

Last Modified: Friday, 01-Dec-2023 16:25:50 EST