News

The dog species began with wolves, but the journey of evolving into our cuddly companions is a long and complicated one. Despite the vast research on this topic, there are still mysteries on just how the dog came to be. Here we will examine some key points and discoveries in untangling the riddle of canine domestication.

The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) recently announced the launch of two new genetic tests designed to identify platelet dysfunction disorders that affect horses: Atypical Equine Thrombasthenia (AET) and Glanzmann Thrombasthenia (GT).

Did you know dog poop can help solve a murder? From catching animal abusers to discovering missing pets, veterinary forensics plays a vital role in criminal investigations. 

A new collaborative study led by Dr. Rebecca Bellone, Director of the UC Davis VGL and a leading expert in equine genomics, has identified a second genetic region associated with insidious uveitis in Appaloosa horses.  

Funded by the United States Trotting Association (USTA), a recently published study by the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) director, Dr. Rebecca Bellone, and VGL researcher, Dr. Felipe Avila, investigated the impact of breeding restrictions (studbook cap) on the genetic diversity of the American Standardbred horse between 1998 and 2021.

The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) is excited to announce the release of the APHA White Pattern Registration Eligibility Panel, a new DNA testing panel designed to support registration of Paint Horses with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA).

This specialized panel includes all currently recognized white patterning genes accepted by APHA for registration eligibility, offering breeders, owners, and association members a streamlined and scientifically validated method to confirm coat color genetics. The panel includes:

A new study led by VGL director, Dr. Rebecca Bellone, in collaboration with UC Davis Professor, Dr. Monica Aleman, and University of Minnesota Professor, Dr. Molly McCue, determined that the genetic variant causing malignant hyperthermia (MH) is at a low frequency in Quarter Horses and related breeds, and horses homozygous for the mutation remain undetected.

A newly published study led by Dr. Leif Andersson and colleagues at Uppsala University in collaboration with researchers at the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) discovered the existence of two different Gray alleles, one of which is associated with fast graying and increased risk for melanoma. 

Congenital myotonia (CM) is a heritable neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by a slow relaxation of skeletal muscles following voluntary contraction. Affected animals exhibit sudden muscle stiffness when excited or startled and this stiffness often causes the animal to fall over briefly. 

A recently published study led by Dr. Mandi de Mestre, from Cornell University, revealed that horses may be a valuable model species for studying miscarriage in humans. The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) was honored to collaborate on that work.