The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, plays many roles in the lives of humans. Additionally, the dog is recognized for its potential as a model for many human hereditary diseases. Thus, the genetics and genomics of the dog are being studied extensively in order to facilitate its use as a model, as well as to help the dog for its own sake. As part of this research effort, our laboratory has added type I markers (i.e., the acidic and basic keratins, c-kit, type I and IV collagens, and the gene encoding uromodulin) to the emerging map of the canine genome. The mapping of genes, particularly those in large gene families such as the collagens, is valuable because it rapidly increases the density of gene loci on the map and provides insight regarding conservation of synteny between the dog and other mammals. The major focus of work reported here is the genetics of X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS), a terminal renal disease that affects the human and the dog. The disease results from mutations in COL4A5, a type IV collagen gene. Reported here are the 1) sequencing and mapping of the canine cDNA encoding uromodulin, 2) mapping of the type I and type IV collagen genes, 3) sequencing of the full-length cDNA of canine COL4A5, 4) identification of a 10 bp deletion in COL4A5, causative for XLAS in our colony of mixed breed dogs, 5) development of a genetic test for identification of affected and carrier dogs in the colony and 6) assessment of gene expression in the kidneys of normal and XLAS-dogs. This assessment was performed using a canine-specific oligonucleotide microarray. XLAS dogs demonstrated up-regulation of many genes involved in extracellular matrix reorganization, cell structure, and immune response, as expected in a glomerulopathy with tubulointerstitial nephritis. Trends were verified by quantitative RT-PCR. A review of the current status of canine genetics research, and current understanding of hereditary diseases in the dog, concludes this dissertation.

The domestic dog was probably the first domesticated animal, and the only one to spread to all continents in ancient times. The dog is one of the most phenotypically diverse animals, a result of human selection throughout dog history. Studies of the genetic origins and early spread of domestic dogs is important to gather information about biological and cultural mechanisms behind domestication but also to investigate early human history. The step from a hunter and gatherer lifestyle to farming is one of the most important steps in human history. In this thesis I will present work aimed at understanding both domestic dog origins and dispersal. In order to be able to investigate dog origins based on a second haploid chromosome we identified 14,437 bp of Y-chromosomal DNA sequence. Based on this we show that dogs in Asia south of Yangtze River (ASY) has the highest genetic diversity and was founded from a large number of wolf founders confirming earlier mtDNA results. Early dog dispersal is tightly coupled to human history with the dog brought along as a cultural item. We have for the first time investigated the dog dispersal into Polynesia and Australia and our data can be used as evidence for a more complex settlement of Polynesia than earlier indicated from archaeological and linguistic studies. Analysis of Y-chromosome SNPs in Australian dingoes confirms earlier mtDNA genetic studies that the dingo is part of the domestic dog phylogeny and was founded from a small population of domestic dogs. We have also for the first time investigated the dog population on Madagascar and our data strongly indicates a mainland African origin for the Madagascan dogs. Finally, we have investigated the American dog population sampled from throughout the continent and also for the first time included putative indigenous breed dogs such as Chihuahua and Pero Sín Pelo del Peru, and the free-ranging Carolina dogs from southern USA. Our data clearly indicates a primarily Old World origin for the indigenous breed dogs and also for the free-ranging Carolina dogs in USA. We can also for the first time present evidence for continuity between the ancient and extant dog population with e.g. exclusive sharing of a haplotype between a modern sample of Chihuahua and an ancient Mexican sample. / QC 20120510

"An ‘exponential growth of science’ throughout modern history has been frequently boasted by numerous narcissistic accounts of ‘modern humanity.’ Nonetheless, ‘modern science’ seems to have overwhelmingly compromised on its original promises by fitting into an ‘industrial scheme.’ With this concern, ‘molecular phylogeographics with conservational ambitions’ would look an intact ground for research efforts in a ‘school of biotechnology.’ The dog (Canis familiaris) as an earliest domestic animal has a history of conflicts over its origins and dispersal. Having those disputes addressed, valuable knowledge could be acquired on the nature and dynamics of domestication, and of human societies particularly of pre-agricultural ages. We employed two most widely-used genealogical markers, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the non-recombining portion of the Y-chromosome (NRY), to address dog demography. Through 582 bps of mtDNA Control Region, complemented with whole mitochondrial genomes, it was established that almost all maternal lineages of the domestic dog worldwide coalesce to a population of at least 51 and perhaps many more female wolves in Asia South of Yangtze River (ASY) approximately 16,000 years before present (BP). This was based on the presence of a maximal diversity in this area, a descending gradient of diversity outward it, and a ubiquitous population structure everywhere in the world. A closer examination of this portrait in Southwest Asia (SwAsia) and the Fertile Crescent (FC), a region which has supplied persuasive evidence on early presence of the domestic dog, retrieved the same information, with implications for backbreeding with the local wolf population. Meanwhile, analyses of mtDNA dispersal showed that dogs took the long way via land to Madagascar Island, and not together with humans via sea. By the other approach, the NRY data in 14,437 bps length supplemented the mtDNA in reporting the height of diversity from ASY with a founding population of at least 13 male wolves, but expectably produced lower inter-regional differentiation by diversity. Screening of NRY by a SNP assay in the dingoes of Australia Island as a population of feral dogs revealed restricted and similar dispersal patterns for sires and dams. Prospects of ancient, multilocus and whole genome assays with the emerging high-throughput technologies has still more to promise on finer elaborations of these issues." / <p>QC 20120529</p>

This essay is about dogs that visit is used, whitin care of elderly. The dogs found caretakers once a week and one hour at a time. The focus has been placed on the dogs that go to the municipality's special accommodation and the research was done in a medium-sized municipality in Sweden. The focus of the narrowing of the work was done to the work situation for care staff to assess the impact of the visits the dogs presence. It was distributed questionnaires answered by care staff in which it concluded their visit to the dog's presence felt and how it impacted the situation. There has been much previous research done on how dogs affect the elderly in care. This has been done to see if the care staff perceive the same thing, and in turn experience any possible help of visiting dogs. What emerged in this study is that most are in favor of visits dog and they're older. The majority of respondents agreed that their work situation has become neither better nor worse then visit the dogs started to meet caretakers. This may be due to visit the dog is not enough time on site at each visit. Even the fact that care staff are not practicing with the caretakers memory to get them to remain in the state of mind that research shows that the older gets in. These can have an impact on how care staff perceive a possible means in visits of the dog.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2008. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Mark Taper. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 4, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-72).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2002. / "December 2002." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-160). Also issued on the Internet.

Bakgrund: Alla personer oavsett ålder har mänskliga behov som behöver tillgodoses för att personen ska kunna känna välbefinnande. Ibland tvingas en individ att flytta till ett särskilt boende på grund av särskilda behov. För en del personer kan det vara svårt att vänja sig att bo på ett särskilt boende, som kan leda till ensamhet och depression. Vården som ges till de äldre ska se till de fysiska, psykiska och sociala behoven. Det är därför relevant att fördjupa sig i vad som skulle kunna underlätta denna förändring, vilket skulle kunna vara en hund.   Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om och i så fall hur hundar påverkar äldre personer som bor på särskilt boende. Metod: En litteratur studie som är baserad på 13 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Resultatet presenteras i tre kategorier Social påverkan, Psykisk påverkan och Fysisk påverkan. Slutsats: Studierna visade inga samstämmiga resultat, men konstaterande kan göras att hunden har möjlighet att bidra till en vardag där individens behov är i fokus. / Background: Every individual regardless of age have human needs that has to be taken in consideration in order to experience well-being. Sometimes an individual has to move to a nursing home, related to special needs. To some people this can be a hard thing to adjust to and may lead to loneliness and depression. Services offered to the elderly should provide for the physical, psychological and social needs. This is why it’s in our interest to increase the knowledge, to be able to provide a positive change, which could be a dog. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if and how dogs affect elderly people when they are living in a nursinghome.  Method: A literature study based on the 13 scientific papers. Results: The result presented three categories of Social impact, Psychological impact and Physical impact. Conclusion: The scientific studies showed different results, but assumptions can be made regarding dogs impact on people needs in their everyday life.

M. Tech. Nature Conservation / The influence of predation on ungulates is most commonly measured through the direct lethal effects of predators. However, indirect effects of predation risk may alter prey behaviour and survival. The introduction of a pack of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) into the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana, allowed various indirect responses of ungulates to predation risk to be investigated. The study focused on predation pressure and its effects on ungulate activities during the denning period of the wild dogs, and on how the distribution and density of prey and lions influenced wild dog movement patterns in both the denning and non-denning period.

The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, plays many roles in the lives of humans. Additionally, the dog is recognized for its potential as a model for many human hereditary diseases. Thus, the genetics and genomics of the dog are being studied extensively in order to facilitate its use as a model, as well as to help the dog for its own sake. As part of this research effort, our laboratory has added type I markers (i.e., the acidic and basic keratins, c-kit, type I and IV collagens, and the gene encoding uromodulin) to the emerging map of the canine genome. The mapping of genes, particularly those in large gene families such as the collagens, is valuable because it rapidly increases the density of gene loci on the map and provides insight regarding conservation of synteny between the dog and other mammals. The major focus of work reported here is the genetics of X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS), a terminal renal disease that affects the human and the dog. The disease results from mutations in COL4A5, a type IV collagen gene. Reported here are the 1) sequencing and mapping of the canine cDNA encoding uromodulin, 2) mapping of the type I and type IV collagen genes, 3) sequencing of the full-length cDNA of canine COL4A5, 4) identification of a 10 bp deletion in COL4A5, causative for XLAS in our colony of mixed breed dogs, 5) development of a genetic test for identification of affected and carrier dogs in the colony and 6) assessment of gene expression in the kidneys of normal and XLAS-dogs. This assessment was performed using a canine-specific oligonucleotide microarray. XLAS dogs demonstrated up-regulation of many genes involved in extracellular matrix reorganization, cell structure, and immune response, as expected in a glomerulopathy with tubulointerstitial nephritis. Trends were verified by quantitative RT-PCR. A review of the current status of canine genetics research, and current understanding of hereditary diseases in the dog, concludes this dissertation.