When I first saw this article I was very excited. It was about a gene that has been linked to exercise-induced collapse.
I could now explain to Lisa why I fell to the ground after exercising, it wasn’t simply because I was out of shape. I was sure I must have this gene defect and I was going to have to give up exercising for the sake of my health. Life is good.
As I read further I discovered this has nothing to do with humans, I’m on my own, and everything to do with a mutated gene that has been found in Labrador Retrievers.
PARIS (AFP) – Genetic scientists said on Sunday they could explain why Labrador retrievers, the most popular dog breed in the world, may be prone to suffering a collapse of their rear legs after having exercise.
The answer lies in a mutation of a gene called dynamin 1, or DNM1, on the dog’s ninth chromosome that controls a key chemical in the nervous system, they said.
The syndrome, called exercise-induced collapse, was first spotted by vets in the 1990s among a group of Labradors who were undergoing training.
Some five to 15 minutes after getting strenuous exercise, some of the dogs would develop a wobbly gait and a high temperature, followed by a near-complete loss of control over their rear limbs.
This is actually a very important discovery and is the first naturally occurring mutation of this gene identified in any mammal.
“Its discovery could offer insight into normal as well as abnormal neurobiology in both animals and humans,” stated James Mickelson, a professor of veterinary sciences at the university.
