Building tools and resources to uncover the genetic basis of canine diseases and adaptations

We are interested in all aspects of canine genomics, from disease and trait mapping to bioinformatics to genomic stability. Artificial selection and genetic structure make purebred domestic dogs an ideal model for understanding the evolutionary process of rapid adaptation and the processes by which selection and demography impact genetic load. As such, dogs are particularly instructive for identifying ways to improve adaptability and improve fitness in conservation biology.

African Wild Dogs Get a Helping Hand

African wild dogs are highly endangered, with perhaps fewer than 7,000 remaining in isolated wild populations. Captive breeding programs are plagued by high rates of juvenile mortality and stillbirth, leading to dramatic setbacks in zoological settings. By evaluating the health of twenty packs in captivity through social, hormonal, and genetic analysis, we are looking for ways to reduce juvenile mortality and improve captive population management.