Belgian shepherd dogs seem to have genetic protection against diabetes

A genetic interaction which may protect Belgian shepherd dogs from developing diabetes has been discovered in a project led by researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and SciLifeLab/Uppsala University. In this breed, the researchers found a novel mechanism of regulating blood sugar levels via an interaction of genes located on two different chromosomes.

The results were published on May 13 in the journal PLoS ONE. The study was led by Associate Professor Katja Höglund from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in close collaboration with Dr. Marcin Kierczak and Professor Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Co-director at SciLifeLab in Uppsala.

Read the published article in PLoS ONE

Read the full press release at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences