A new study conducted by an international team of scientists led by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has identified the gene responsible for this great range of dog sizes. The answer, it seems involve a number of different versions of the gene that encodes for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1).Small dogs were much less likely to contain two different versions of IGF1 compared to large dogs.
Studies in mice and clinical reports in humans have previously identified IGF1 as being involved in determining body size, with IGF1-deficient mice being around 60 percent normal size.
Link & Image: Ars Technica
Tags: Gene | IGF1 | Size
Comments