Why this webpage?
This webpage describes the Canine Genetic Research in Finland, and, as a part of it, the Genetic Research Study of Epilepsy in Dalmatian Dogs (EPIDAL).
Dr. Hannes Lohi, Academy Research Fellow, has started has started a Canine Genetic Program in the University of Helsinki, Helsinki Finland. The goal is to identify new genes for different genetic diseases in dogs in order to understand better the much more complicated genetic diseases of humans. Concentration lays on epilepsy, autoimmundisease, cancer, vision disorders and other neurological diseases.
Please read further information concerning the whole project.
The positive effect of this kind of research for dog breeding is that gene discoveries make it possible to develop novel DNA markers to identify affected dogs, carriers, healthy dogs in different breeds in different disease. This helps to develop breeding programs so that disease can be eradicated from the breed
More than 50 Finnish breed clubs have started projects with Dr. Lohi's group such as epilepsy and other diseases. Dr. Lohi's DNA bank has currently >6000 DNA samples from 175 different breeds. He collaborates with genetic reasearch laboratories worldwide. The Dalmatian Club of America has collected samples and pedigrees for an US Canine Epilepsy Research program (University of Missouri), and Dr. Lohi has access to the DNA and data of those dogs.
Some Finnish dalmatian owners/breeders have sent blood and pedigrees to Dr. Lohi. With just a few more samples it would be possible for the first time ever to start a study concerning epilepsy in dalmatian dogs, and develope a gene test.
Email: epidal@dalmatiner.org