A pet dog sits on a mattress for dogs displayed at a pet goods fair at the SETEC exhibition hall in Seoul on Feb. 3, 2023. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A local research team has created the world’s first dog epigenome map, South Korea’s ICT ministry said Thursday.
The team at Seoul National University developed epigenome data for 11 major organs in dogs, such as the cerebrum, liver, and stomach, and produced an epigenome functional reference map, according to the ministry.
The researchers observed that dogs’ epigenomes respond faster to environmental factors compared to humans, despite sharing the same environment.
Dogs can act as sentinels, alerting humans to potential risks in advance.
The analysis also revealed that dogs’ epigenomes exhibit greater similarity to humans than rats’ epigenomes.
Over a long period of breed evolution, dogs have acquired complex biological traits.
Consequently, they are expected to contribute significantly to enhancing our understanding of hereditary diseases and cancers.
The study’s findings were published in the international academic journal Science Advances.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
