Abstract
Canine and human behavior are shaped by similar evolutionary processes, yet the identification of the behavioral phenotype is often difficult. A widely used method relies on breed stereotypes provided by experts such as dog trainers. To reveal a valid association between behavior and genetic factors, an association study of behavioral phenotyping and genotyping is essential. We screened for variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms in intron 4 of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in military working dogs (belonging to pass and fail groups based on the results of an in-training examination conducted by the drillmaster), which were scored based on possessiveness, audaciousness, concentration, and motor ability by qualification examination. We first characterized each genotype by sequencing, in which the 1/1 type consists of a single copy of a 36-bp sequence and the 2/2 type is a duplicated form of the 36-bp repeat unit. The 1/2 alleles showed a single nucleotide change as a heteroduplex, which generated a PCR product of similar size as that of the 1/1-182-bp. The military working dogs showed the 2/2 type of VNTR and heteroduplex. For the pass group, two dogs possessed 2/2 type (40 %), whereas three dogs were of the heteroduplex type (60 %). However, all members of fail group showed the 2/2 type (100 %). These data indicate that repeat polymorphisms with behavioral phenotyping can identify military working dogs that would pass or fail the in-training examination.
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This research was supported by awards from the AGENDA project (Project No. PJ009254) in the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA).
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Jungwoo Eo and Bong-Hwan Choi have contributed equally to this work.
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Eo, J., Choi, BH., Jung, YD. et al. Polymorphism analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in military working dogs. Genes Genom 35, 817–821 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-013-0156-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-013-0156-7