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The American Kennel Club (AKC)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 18, 2002
Contact: Daisy Okas
Phone: 212-696-8343

CANINE GENOME SELECTED FOR STUDY BY NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE

New York, NY – The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) recently announced the addition of the cow and the dog to the list of high priority organisms that should be considered for genome sequencing.

With the completion of the initial objectives of the Human Genome Project in 2001, NHGRI has implemented a priority-setting process to determine the next organisms to be sequenced. Scientists were asked to submit proposals stating their case as to why the genome they were interested in deserved high priority status. A proposal to sequence the dog genome was submitted by scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA), the Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research (Cambridge, MA), and the Canine Genome Mapping Community (composed of researchers from the U.S. and several other countries). Notably, several of these organizations have received funding from The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKC-CHF). In addition, the AKC had sent a letter to NHGRI in support of the selection of the canine genome at the time the proposal was submitted.

In reaction to the announcement, the AKC and the Foundation expressed their support of the selection.
“Dogs and people share many of the same debilitating diseases,” said John Studebaker, Vice President of AKC-CHF. ”The selection of the canine genome for sequencing is an important step towards understanding and conquering major health concerns, such as cancer, epilepsy and heart disease, which plague both dogs and humans.”

“The AKC has been devoted to the study, breeding and preservation of the purebred dog for over 100 years,” said AKC President and CEO Al Cheauré. “We have always recognized the emotional significance of the human-canine bond. We’re pleased that science will take that bond one step further by researching physiological similarities and putting the study of the dog to good use for both species.”
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The AKC, founded in 1884, is one of the oldest sports-governing organizations. It maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, is responsible for overseeing the governance of the sport of purebred dogs, and keeps records of competitive results. For further information about AKC and the sport of purebred dogs, visit AKC Online at www.akc.org or contact the Communications Department at 212-696-8343.