Research Across Species Holds Great Promise

I am working an a fascinating story about the field of comparative oncology, in which tissues from dogs with various stages of mammary tumors is being analyzed in terms of its molecular composition, to determine when a tumor changes from benign to malignant. It is believed that the molecular composition of these tumors is the same in dogs as people, so there are vets as well as human oncologists involved in this research.

All of which brings me to the topic of obsessive compulsive disorder, which, researchers have just discovered, is controlled by the same gene in humans as in dogs. Of course, this finding was made possible by the discovery of the gene in dogs that controls this behavior.

Researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University have reported this finding in this month's issue of Nature Molecular Psychiatry. Edward Gins, director of medical genetics at University of Massachusetts Medical School, assisted. According to Gins, the gene identified in the study, exists in both humans and dogs.

What is interesting is that the mere presence of the gene is not always as predictor, in humans, of whether or not the person or will develop the disorder, but its presence does indicate it is more likely. In addition, the use of Prozac to treat both humans and dogs also highlights the similarities of the behavior across species.

The ethical reasons for doing research on dogs who already manifest the behavior or condition that is being studied are enormous. Rather than inject these "diseases" into animals, why not treat and study those who already have them, with the side light being the potential to improve the animals quality of life?

It is an exciting and promising window into animal research and highlights the need for a federal agency, similar to NIH, to fund ongoing work.