Humans And Dogs Share Similar 'Albino' Gene

May 13, 2014

Image Caption: Albino Doberman pinschers share a similar gene with humans who also have the condition and display the same characteristics including sensitivity to sunlight. Credit: Michigan State University

Sarina Gleason / Joshua Bartoe, Michigan State University

Michigan State University researchers have identified a genetic mutation in Doberman pinschers that causes albinism in the breed, a discovery that has eluded veterinarians and breeders worldwide up until now.

Paige Winkler, a doctoral student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, co-led the study with Joshua Bartoe, an assistant professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, and discovered a mutated gene that is associated with a form of albinism in humans.

What we found was a gene mutation that results in a missing protein necessary for cells to be pigmented, said Winkler. Some defects in this same gene cause a condition called oculocutaneous albinism in humans.

This type of albinism has certain characteristics that are evident in both humans and dogs.

With an albino Doberman, you see a white or lighter-colored coat, pink noses and lips, along with pale irises in the eyes, said Winkler. These traits are very similar to the characteristics humans display with this particular condition causing light-pigmented skin and hair, along with eye discoloration and vision disturbances.

The canine breed and people also experience the same skin sensitivity to sunlight, which results in an increased risk of skin tumors.

We knew that the albino Dobermans typically developed these types of tumors, much like humans, but we wondered what the actual increase in prevalence was between a white dog and a regular-colored Doberman, said Bartoe. What we found was a significant increase in risk for development of melanoma-like tumors in the albino dogs.

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Humans And Dogs Share Similar 'Albino' Gene