What are DNA researchers looking for?
DNA researchers attempt to find the genes responsible for various traits, both detrimental and beneficial. Like the human genome and mouse genome project, the canine genome project is trying to determine how the genes are arranged on the various chromosomes and what they do. While good progress has been made mapping the human and mouse genome, the canine gene map until recently has been very rudimentary, which makes genetic research much slower and more challenging. The goals of DNA researchers working on canine epilepsy are: (1) to identify the gene or genes responsible for the various forms of canine epilepsy; (2) to characterize the responsible mutations within the epilepsy genes; and, (3) to devise and validate DNA marker assays that can detect the epilepsy-causing mutations. These DNA marker assays should enable breeders to produce epilepsy-free puppies.
