The 4 Most Incredible Scientific Studies On Dogs
Currently, scientific studies on dogs – in all disciplines – have been increasing. This is due to several factors, including the ubiquity of the species and the low costs of research in domestic dogs.
In addition, potential applications of the findings in working dogs are important. On the other hand, the possible implications of extrapolating findings to human health are also of vital interest.
1. Science has already unraveled the canine genome
The Dog Genome Project consists of compiling and comparing the genomes (complete DNA sequences) of 1,346 dogs sampled over 20 years.
The most detailed canine family tree to date has recently been published. In this genealogy, a timeline of when and where the dogs of 161 breeds emerged is reported.
Why is this information useful?
It is clear that all domesticated dogs are part of the same species, Canis familiaris , and have the same genetic material.
Thus, it is known that there are only a small fraction of changes in the genome that separate a Chihuahua from a Great Dane. By knowing which portions of the DNA make them different, relevant information is obtained about the genetic variants that define, in this case, their physical traits.
Clearly, we can see that the information derived from this colossal study will help to know which genes and which mutations are associated with canine and – by extrapolation – human diseases. Such is the case with epilepsy, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease.
The high incidence of some diseases in certain breeds – such as epilepsy in beagles – makes them a valuable model for clarifying canine and human conditions.
2. Dogs dream like you
While this won’t come as much of a surprise to dog owners, science has already established it: During sleep, dogs have the same brain wave patterns as humans, suggesting that they dream similarly to us, though not all dogs dream the same.
Small dogs have a different cycle than large dogs. For example, a miniature poodle has 10-minute sleep cycles, while a Great Dane has cycles lasting about an hour.
Another study has shown that in dogs, analogous to humans, learning skills are related to sleep-dependent memory consolidation.
3. Scientific studies on canine vision
Much progress has been made in this field, but still there is a misconception that dogs can only see black and white. This belief is accompanied by the idea that dogs use different levels of brightness to identify the contours of the elements.
Although this myth has been around for decades, the truth is that they can see colors. Of course, they see less vivid colors: in addition to black and white, they detect blue and yellow.
In addition to their perception of color, the finding that suggests that dogs may have the ability to perceive ultraviolet light has been of great impact.
In an evaluation of visual sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) in different mammalian species, it was identified that dogs possess the ocular ability to transmit significant amounts of UV rays (335 nm). That study suggested that canine eyes are sensitive to ultraviolet light.
Recently, another scientific study found evidence that dogs may have a magnetic sense associated with their visual system.
This group of experts detected in the canine eye the presence of a protein, called cryptochrome 1, which is sensitive to blue light.
4. Scientific studies on canine intelligence
Even more recent studies reveal that “man’s best friend” is more intelligent than we think. They have a brain that resembles ours in ways we never imagine.
At Duke University, the United States, the Center for Canine Cognition works, in which a group of scientists are tracing the evolutionary path that made wild animals descended from the wolf into our companions.
In recent decades, the research of this group has revealed several ways in which dogs – unlike primates – solve social problems in a similar way to how a human baby would. Furthermore, comparisons with other species suggest the possibility that some of these abilities are the result of domestication.
For these types of projects, focused on cognition in non-primates, dogs are an ideal species as a model system. This is based on the ease of collecting large amounts of data.
The work of this and other groups has established that dogs can understand up to several hundred words and gestures, count to 5, perform simple calculations, and intentionally deceive dogs and people. So, better stay alert!
In summary, as society continues to support scientific studies of canine biology and behavior, we will be able to learn more about their unique traits and attributes.
Future research will undoubtedly broaden our understanding of man’s best friend and allow us to benefit from it. Scientific studies, in addition to providing information on the implications for canine health, will impact society due to its possible therapeutic action in human conditions.
