Canine Cancer
...involving doctors, veterinarians and researchers from different Universities and laboratories worldwide. The main goal of this project is to produce a map of all the chromosomes in dogs. Such a map can be used to locate the genes causing diseases in the domestic dog. Understanding the dog genome sequences, will help scientists understand the human genome as well. It was found that the dog genome is very similar in size to the genomes of humans. The human and canine genomes are 90percent similar. This project says that more than 25% or 650 million base pairs of DNA overlap between human and dog. Humans have 46 chromosomes, while dogs have 78. The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 dog breeds. This diversity makes it easier for geneticists to identify genes responsible for certain diseases. Researchers are finding dogs to be a remarkable model to study many of the diseases that also affect humans. Dogs live in the same environment as humans, breathe the same air, therefore having similar diseases, making them ideal candidates for health studies. Most of the 400 known canine diseases have human counterparts. One major disease that is being studied in the canines is cancer. Caner has always been, and continues to be a major health concern to humans. The physiology, disease presentation and clinical response of dogs mimic human cancer closely. Therefore carefully studying different aspects of cancer in dogs will help scientists reveal certain aspects of it in humans.
A program that branched off of this idea is known as The Comparative Cancer Program being conducted at Cornell University. The mission statement of this program states, "the long-term goal of the Comparative Cancer Program is to drive discovery throughout Cornell University toward advancement of new methods for prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of cancer. In order to...
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