How the Siberian Huskies had their ghostly blue eyes

The blue-eyed Siberian Huskies would have made great pets for white walkers. At present, the largest genome-wide association study in dogs has revealed that a duplicate on chromosome 18 of the dog was responsible for the hypnotic blue eyes of the husky.

Scientists know the existence of two genetic variants associated with blue eyes in some dogs, but they do not explain the trait in Siberian Huskies. To find the genetic markers responsible for the husky trait, Embark Veterinary, a canine DNA start-up, combed DNA data from 6,070 genetically tested dogs. Researchers also had phenotype data provided by their owners through web surveys.

Finally, they found a duplication of 98.6 kilobases on chromosome 18 near the ALX4 gene, which is known to play an important role in the development of the mammalian eye. The researchers concluded that gene duplication is responsible for the color of blue eyes in Siberian Huskies, but also in Australian non-merle shepherds.

In the future, other studies thatt instudy the functional mechanisms behind this association may explain the way in which blue eyes develop in mammals.

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That it is to unite women traded at birth 72 years before or settle neighborhood quarrels, consumer genomics has captured the public interest. The most controversial case is the controversial case of the Golden State Killer, in which investigators linked a DNA sample found at the scene of the crime to a close relative of the suspect, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., who used several genomic services . The interest of this new study is that it shows that genomic consumption data are not limited to human research. Who knows what kind of information lies deep in the genes of man's best friend?

"By using the genetic data of our customers' pets, combined with the eye colors reported by customers for these same animals, we have discovered a genetic duplication strongly associated with the color of blue eyes. This study demonstrates the strength of Embark's approach to improving canine health. In a single year, we collected enough data to conduct the largest dog study of this type. Embark is currently pursuing similar research projects covering a range of morphological and health-related characteristics. We hope to continue using our platform to advance dog genetics and health in a very real way, "said Embar researcher Aaron J. Sams.

Scientific reference: Deane-Coe PE, Chu ET, Slavney A, Boyko AR, Sams AJ (2018) DNA testing of 6,000 dogs directly from consumers reveal a 98.6 kb duplication associated with blue eyes and heterochromia in Siberian Huskies. PLoS Genetics 14 (10): e1007648. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1007648.

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