A groundbreaking recent study in 2020 shed new light on Canine evolution with the potential to dramatically impact how we think about Canine health, evolution, and our ability to positively influence the lives of our four-legged companions. Researcher Ann-Solfie Sundman and colleagues discovered hard evidence that dogs are one of the fastest evolving species on earth and identified DNA methylation as the biological driver for change in the canine genome. “DNA Methylation is an epigenetic mechanism involving the transfer of a methyl group onto the C5 position of the cytosine to form 5-methylcytosine. DNA methylation regulates gene expression by recruiting proteins involved in gene repression or by inhibiting the binding of transcription factor(s) to DNA,” as described by Lisa Moore & colleagues. It is responsible for differentiating between breeds and characteristics of dogs dating back to the earliest ancestor of woofs, the extinct Gray Wolf.
On a biochemical level, DNA methylation speaks to why we have 2400+ domesticated dog breeds and rising. Given that dogs can safely give birth starting at two to three years old, often occurring sooner in the wild, it’s common to see 3 generations of the same lineage within a decade. A time span where researchers discovered measurable changes in DNA, also known as epigenetic changes, which create the template for an individual’s biochemical makeup and therefore behavior, susceptibility to disease and appearance. It’s astounding to think how quickly this happens before our eyes and the broader implications of what’s happening within dogs of different generations and the large-scale implications of these findings. This may bring a familiar feeling to long-time dog owners who notice the difference in canine behavior over a long period of time, but this is proof the pooches we deal with today have fundamental differences with their ancestors of 40 years ago. To what degree is questionable, and certain to be a focal point of future research.
The prominence of epigenetic changes in canines highlights our ability to bring out the best in dogs by treating them properly. When mindfully caring for a dog’s health, both physical and mental, we have the opportunity to influence the way genes are expressed or turned on in our dogs, as well as genes that do not activate and play a role in their lives. In dogs with multi-faceted service capabilities such as the German Shepherd for example, it allows us the ability to selectively decrease aggressive based behaviors which can be overwhelming to owners and contribute to the overcrowding of animal shelters and unnecessarily euthanizing young, healthy dogs robbing them of the opportunity to experience life in a happy way. The findings from this study emphasize the need to re-examine our approach to canine care as a common practice with the recognition that they are evolving before our eyes at a much faster rate than humans. Medical technology such as DNA swab kits and analysis will become increasingly important in shaping the collective effort to extend the canine lifespan while improving quality of life. In veterinary and breeding communities, it is particularly important to think about because of the impact it has on the greater community and canine population as a whole. We must be thorough, nimble, and unafraid to adjust standard practices when appropriate so they align with our constantly growing library of canine-related knowledge.
