Genetic changes linked to aging in dogs are more quantitative than qualitative

A survey of gene activity in dog brain tissue revealed that 16,000 of the 20,000 genes in all animals were active, and about 3,500 genes differed across age groups

Interest in dogs as a natural model of human aging has skyrocketed in recent years, leading to the establishment of multi-level research programs, such as the Hungarian Aged Home Dog Project, to study canine aging

However, in order for these studies to be able to effectively assess the effects of drugs, translatability between dogs and humans should be ensured at all biological levels

Sequencing RNA molecules in biological samples is a powerful tool for exploring mechanisms of genetic regulation

"We used bioinformatics analysis to look for age-related changes in genetic mechanisms," added bioinformatician Jonas David, first author of the study

When analyzing individual genes, 80 percent of the dog's 20,000 genes were found to be active in each animal

In the older animals, half of the differentially expressed genes showed reduced activity, while the other half were more active

The Hungarian researchers' results also suggest that biobanks are a reliable source for such investigations, which could also help reduce the long-term need for laboratory dog ​​models