Dog lovers adore face-licking, tail-wagging and jump-in-your-lap attitude of their dogs everytime they see a dog. But, people knew that dogs' incredible sociability is recognized universally. This ability also sets them apart from other wild animals.
Researchers reported on Wednesday, July 19 in the journal Science Advances, that the dogs' friendliness may share genetic basis with the human disease called Williams-Beuren syndrome. According to the researchers, humans with this condition shows symptoms which include indiscriminate and intense sociability.
According to a report, the team of researchers from Princeton, Oregon State University and other institutions combined the genetic and behavioral studies of 16 dogs and 8 captives, socialized wolves who was pinned down changes in two genes on a chromosome's region. These chromosome is reported to be associated with hyperfriendliness in the dogs.
"The two genes, GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, are also associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome in humans," said Bridgett M. vonHoldt, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University and an author of the study.
Adam Boyko, a biologist who studies dog genetics at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, called the study "truly interesting and important" and added that it "may be one of the first studies to ever identify the specific genetic variants that were important for turning wolves into dogs".
"VonHoldt and her colleagues studied a stretch of DNA in dogs that includes about 29 genes. The deletion of part or all of this section seems to cause the human syndrome. They sought out structural changes in the genes, like deletions or transposition of DNA to another location," an article posted.
Despite this statement, Boyko stated that they need to research more on a larger and diverse group to confirm these results.
