PetSugar

So Whaddya Think: Is Your Canine Cute Enough to Clone?

PetSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:30:00 -0800

For a cool $150,000 Seoul-based RNL Bio will clone your pet dog! In cooperation with the scientists who created the world’s first cloned canine, "Snuppy," the organization will continue to work until they are successful . . . battling an average success rate of one out of four. The first order up is from a woman who wants a clone of her dead pittie and had ear tissue taken and preserved at a U.S. biotech company before the dog died a year-and-a-half ago. The idea is that you can have the same dog – genetically – over and over again for the rest of your life . . . are you buying in?

Source

Scientists Spot Gene That Makes Dog Fur Black!

PetSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:54:17 -0800

Stanford University researchers have identified the gene that makes dogs' fur black, and may also shed light on differences in people's body size and ability to cope with stress! The work narrowed the genome region to a gene that makes a beta-defensin protein – one version of this beta-defensin gene produces yellow pups, and another produces black. In fact, all dog coat colors are modifications of black and yellow! A Dalmatian, for example, may appear spotted but, based on genetics, it's considered black.

This project started a couple years ago with Boxers and Great Danes of different colors. Once the genome that differed between them was identified, scientists moved on to 36 other dog breeds, gathering hundreds of cheek swab samples. A human can have between 40 and 50 different defensin genes; dogs can have up to 46. This one is part of the melanocortin pathway – shared by canines and humans – that determines skin and hair color along with weight and stress adaptation.

Source

Bassetoodle, Bernedoodle: Do You Know Your Dog's DNA?

PetSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:00:11 -0700

With "designer dogs" becoming more en vogue, many pet owners are taking a greater interest in what breeds make up their mutt's DNA. Nowadays, these hybrid pooches are often bred for a specific result, putting the price of ownership at top dollar, many times meriting even more than the price of traditional purebred dogs. Favored by celebrities such as Jessica Simpson seen here with her maltipoo (Maltese and Toy Poodle mix), Daisy, many people are not only clamoring for these new breeds but also want to know what unique mix they already own.

Enter: WISDOM Panel MX, the most comprehensive DNA-based mixed breed test for dogs that will analyze your hybrid dog's DNA. Running at $65 and up, the price tag is not for everyone. However, the miracle of its development includes the analysis of more than 19 million DNA markers from more than 13,000 dogs, and it can detect more than 130 breeds covering 99 percent of AKC registered breeds. Information from the analysis will help pet owners to better understand their dog's breed history and allow owners and veterinarians to work together to develop appropriate care and nutrition plans for the pet.

On the one hand, I can understand wanting to know (especially if it affects his well-being) but, on the other, who needs to fit a cute pooch into neat little check boxes.

Source

So Whaddya Think: DNA Tests for Dogs?

PetSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:42:38 -0700

Recent developments by Mars Veterinary have created the Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis test, a comprehensive method of evaluating a dog's blood or cheek swab sample to figure out which breeds make up a mutt's DNA. I've got mixed feelings, but I'd love to hear your opinions about this.

Source

Would You Provide Doggie's DNA to Stop Unscooped Poop?

PetSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:00:47 -0700

I stoop to scoop and think all dog owners should too! I've already shared my frustration about those less responsible pet parents out there and was intrigued by this new plan in the city of Petah Tikva, Israel.
Dog owners are asked to stop in a vet's office to leave a mouth swab sample – the docs then can create a doggie DNA database to properly ID those messes left on the street. At this point it's just optional but the city will consider making it mandatory if the trial program succeeds. Now, I imagine most responsible pet owners would have no problem stopping in for this service if required (and rewarded), but what's the chance that the culprits would even bother?

Source

The Scoop: Trade Center Hero, Trakr, to Be Cloned

PetSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:30:44 -0700

Meet Trakr, the heroic pup who helped locate the last human survivor under about 30 feet of debris after the September 11 attacks. The German Shepherd (and his owner) were among the first search and rescue teams to arrive at Ground Zero, and I'm betting that's why he was deemed the most 'clone-worthy' canine by BioArts International in their competition offering someone a free chance to replicate their pet; a sample of Trakr's DNA will be transported to the South Korean lab of the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, and the cloned dog could be ready later this year!

While we were divided on whether we'd clone our own pets (at that high price), check out more pictures of this beautiful dog with his owner, James Symington, when you read more.

View 10 Photos ›

Source

Thurman Murman Gets Pampered at K9 Loft!

PetSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:30:52 -0700

Only fitting so close to Mother's Day that we feature our fave celebrity (dog) mommy. R-Bils brought her very special pooch to a very special shop in LA yesterday, K9 Loft. Looks like her lil pup got groomed up nicely and even sports a new bandana on his scruffly neck. Learn about this facility (and see adoro piccys) when you read more.

K9 Loft is a one-stop destination in the Echo Park 'hood of LA for those pampered SoCal pooches. With everything from obedience training and full-service grooming (including dental hygiene!) to webcam-monitored daycare and outdoor excursions to Silver Lake Dog Park, lucky pups can come here for a pampering day . . . and moms can pick up some cute gear from their retail shop on the way out. Rachel seems to like bringing Thurman everywhere herself but, among K9 Loft's high-end services, they'd offer a car service to deliver him on those days when she couldn't break away from her busy life to get the lil man. Oh, and even I'm not too sure what kind of pup he is – other than absolutely adoro – maybe one day she'll choose to invest in the DNA testing they offer there as well.

View 7 Photos ›

Flynet and Source

The Scoop: Shark Virgin Welcomes Baby!

PetSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:00:26 -0800

New babies are cause for celebration in my book, and this pup is no exception! The baby shark (aka, pup) was recently born in a Hungarian aquarium to a female white-tipped reef shark. The twist comes in that mom, Ibolya, is not only the location's lone female shark . . . she's been all alone in her tank since she was born at the Nyíregyháza Centre seven years ago! "When I saw the baby shark lying on the bottom of the tank, I thought it was a joke," aquarium director Attila Varga said. "I was amazed when I realized it was a real shark."

The rare process of parthenogenesis is where an egg starts to divide without being fertilized. Although it happens with other vertebrates, birds, snakes, reptiles, and even some bony fishes, it had never previously been described in sharks, rays, or any mammals for that matter. It's so unusual that the only other proven example (in captivity) is when a hammerhead shark had a similar situation at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., back in 2001. Unfortunately for that animal, a stingray killed the pup before it could be safely removed from the tank, but DNA tests completed last year indicated it was indeed a result of a "virgin birth." At this point, Ibolya's baby is the only living example of this miracle!

View 3 Photos ›

Source

What Happened on PetSugar This Week?

PetSugar — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:24:31 -0700

We had a busy first week on PetSugar! We shared opinions on pets in beds, on buses, and with costumes. We also read about doggie DNA and visited the state of Florida. What else did we learn? All of the answers to the quiz can be found in this past week's posts, so let's find out how well you've been paying attention!

Source

Take the quiz