Researcher: Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan, PhD, Michigan State University
Program Area: Prevention
Sponsor(s): Bull Terrier Welfare Foundation, Dalmatian Club of America Foundation, Inc.
Project Dates: 9/12/1997 to 6/23/2000
Grant Amount: $80,000.00
DCAF Funding: $20,000.
Abstract:
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- The knowledge gained from this research makes an important contribution to the understanding of the biology involved with deafness. This study evaluated several genes that are good candidates to harbor the mutations responsible for hearing loss in the Dalmatian, Australian Cattle Dog, Bull Terrier and several other breeds affected by hereditary deafness. These breeds appear to share common spotting or ticking patterns that may be associated with hereditary deafness. The researchers characterized five candidate genes, and evaluated them in various breeds of dogs with hearing loss: Dalmatians, Australian Cattle Dogs, Boxers, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Brittanys, Great Danes and Akitas. They have sequenced between 50 and 100 percent of the coding region for affected and normal dogs for each gene, though they have not yet found the mutation.