You are on page 1of 7

Patterns of Inheritance: The Tyrosine Hydroxylase Genes Affect in Canines

Heather L. McClinnis

Biology 115
04/29/14

Biology 115
May 1, 2014

Abstract
Canine behavior
Human behavior is very similar to that of the canine, making the canine a useful model
for research of both species. German Shepherds were used in a study to see if behaviors, such as
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), were related to the dogs DNA. The
scientists believed that the gene that produces the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) had a link
to impulsivity in dogs. The scientists created a test to measure this linkage. The results showed
that the TH gene was a factor in the impulsivity of the dogs, and can also be used for further
research in humans.

Introduction
Scientists wondered what the difference between a well-behaved, easily trained dog and a
misbehaved dog was. Eniko Kubinyi, a scientist from Hungary, gave a behavior test to over one
hundred dogs and then analyzed their DNA. Kubinyi hoped that his study would present a gene
associated with the production of two neurotransmitters that, in humans, have been linked to
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Kubiny et. al.). Through a creation of his own
test on the dogs, Kubinyi examined if this genetic linkage existed.

Biology 115
04/29/14

Link to the tyrosine hydroxylase gene


The tyrosine hydroxylase gene provides instructions for making the enzyme for normal
functioning of the nervous system (Childrens Health). DNA samples were taken from the dogs
to study the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene. The German shepherds presented two versions of
the TH gene. One was a short version, only 36 pairs long, the other much longer at 72 pairs long
(Kubiny et. al.). The researchers compared the Activity-Impulsivity Behavioral Scale results and
the Dog-ADHD tests to the lengths of the TH alleles. Results showed that the dogs with shorter
TH alleles had the most trouble behaving.

Tests
Kubinyi based his test off of a previous test called the Dog-ADHD Rating Scale.
However, this test could be biased based on the owners opinion of their dog, so Kubinyi created
a whole new test. Kubinyis test was the Activity-Impulsivity Behavioral Scale, or AIBS (Than,
Ker). Researchers collected DNA samples from cells gathered from the inner cheeks of dogs to
study the TH gene. Numerous subtests were designed to measure the dogs behavior and
reactions to things, such as being ignored by its owner; how it behaves when its owner is not
present; whether, and how long, it can obey a command to lie down; and whether it can reliably
return to its owner when called. The dogs were given a score of 0 to 3. Higher scores indicated
misbehavior in the dogs. To ensure the validity of the tests, each dog was retested a few days
later (Than, Ker). Owners were also asked to fill out the Dog-ADHD Rating scale, so the
scientists could cross-check the results.

Biology 115
04/29/14

Link to Humans
There are many similarities between canine and human tyrosine hydroxylase genes. For
example, humans and canines both have tendencies such as self-initiated movements and
impulsivity (Spady et. al.).This study may help us understand underlying genetic factors of
complex human traits, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Phenotype
Phenotyping or identifying the behavior of the canines was rated by two instrumental
scales. The Dog-ADHD Rating Scale was conducted by the owner in the presence of the
experimenter. Some of the items composed of this test are impulsivity, or toying, and
inattention. The scale instructed the owners to rate their pets on a range from 0: never, to 3: very
often. Six sections made up the inattention rating; an example of one was the inability to
concentrate on an assigned order. The Activity-Impulsivity Behavioral scare (AIBS) consists of
four sub tests; spontaneous activity, separation and play, lying on the side, and approaching the
owner. On the campus of the Etvs Lornd University the canines were examined by a directed
test battery. The group consisted of the experimenter, camera man, and the dogs owner. The
behavior was assessed by the conductor by using a score-sheet to rate the canine. The owners
participated in a retest which helped aid in the scores the conductors had recorded from an earlier
testing. The compared AIBS score with 28 other canines.

Biology 115
04/29/14

Genotype
Kubinyi established that two alleles were found (as reported previously [28]). In the short
allele (Allele 1) a 36-bp-long sequence is present as a single copy. In the long allele (Allele 2)
the sequence is in a duplicated form. Two dogs were homozygous for the short version of the TH
gene, which accounted for two-percent of the dogs. Thirty-Five dogs were homozygous for the
long version of the gene, which represented thirty-four percent of the canines. Sixty-Seven dogs
were heterozygous for the gene, representing the remaining sixty-four percent. Researchers
compared the dogs AIBS results with their genotypes. They found those who had one or two
short TH alleles, 37 dogs total, had the highest scores. Kubinyi gathered that this particular
group had the most trouble controlling their impulse behaviors (Kubiny et. al.).

Biology 115
04/29/14

Conclusion
Kubinyis examined the similarity of the TH gene, the gene that provides instructions for
making the enzyme for normal functioning of the nervous system, with the inattention and
impulsivity traits to the tested German Shepherds. Questionnaires answered by the pets owners
were calculated along with the test battery used by the professionals scoring their behavior. They
discovered that the tyrosine hydroxylase intron had a 4 repeat polymorphism relating to the
information gathered from the experiments. The specific choice of common dog breed based in
their study, may help aid in the explanation for the analysis of canine hyperactivity. The current
results could also coincide with some support of human studies. These readings can explore
personality traits relating in the activity-impulsivity of canines along with the similarities with
human Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Biology 115
04/29/14

Works Cited
Childrens Health. Tyrosine Hydroxylase Deficiency. WebMD. 2014. Web. 22 April 2014.
Spady TC, Ostrander EA. Canine Behavioral Genetics: Pointing Out the Phenotypes and Herding
up the Genes. J Human Genet. 2008;82:1018.
Kubinyi E, Vas J, Hejjas K, Ronai Z, Brder I, et al. (2012) Polymorphism in the Tyrosine
Hydroxylase (TH) Gene Is Associated with Activity-Impulsivity in German Shepherd
Dogs. PLoS ONE 7(1): e30271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030271
Than, Ker. Fido's Fidgets: It's in the Genes!. Today's Science. Infobase Learning, Feb.
2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
<http://tsof.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?wid=97333&ID=16370>.

Biology 115
04/29/14

You might also like