US researchers have discovered that the same proteins which fight off microbes also help to determine the colour of a poodles coat. Researchers at Stanford University made the discovery whilst examining hundreds of dogs for a gene mutation that controls coat colour.
The findings have raised questions over the role of defensin proteins. The family of genes were previously thought of as playing a strictly defensive role, fighting off microbes, though these results suggest that the genes may be responsible for an animal ’s ability to respond to changes in the environment .
Regardless of their role, the discovery links the defensin family of genes to the melanocortin pathway – hormones and proteins which are important in weight control and skin pigmentation. As a result, the discovery has particularly excited the researchers given the wider ranging implications the findings may have, as the findings may potentially help to explain why people are different colours and weights.
Proteins Determine Dog Colour
Thu, 25 Oct 2007
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