fact of the month:
Humans have about 22,000 genes, while dogs have about 19,300. Most dog genes are very closely similar to human genes.

AUTHORS' CORNER

Good News

There's great news this month about the future of cancer in dogs and humans, thanks to the recent completion of the mapping of the dog genome (see below). First, though, please allow us to share some good news regarding our book Sparky Fights Back: A Little Dog's Big Battle Against Cancer and some special recognition we've just received from the Dog Writers Association of America. 

We have just learned that the book is one of six nominees for best "General Interest" book in their annual awards. The actual winner won't be announced until February 2006 at an awards dinner in New York, which coincides with the Westminster Dog Show. Winning the top award would be great, but just to be nominated among what must be thousands of entries in this competition is indeed an honor. We hope the added attention will help us to sell even more copies--to the greater benefit of the Animal Cancer Foundation.

The DWAA's Web site lists every nominee in all categories, which include health, breeds, training, children's books and many more. This is a good place to look for the best dog books and publications of the year. There are also awards for journalism, newsletters, magazine articles, etc.--virtually every type of writing that has to do with dogs.

We hope that 2006 brings us closer and closer to cures for canine cancers. Dogs are contributing much knowledge as scientific studies involving canines and other companion animals are revealing more and more about cancer in pets--and humans!

    Happiest of New Years! Here's hoping the coming year brings you Success In All Your Battles!

-- Josée and John

Got ideas? Please continue to e-mail news items to us at authors@sparkyfightsback.com .  

DOG GENOME MAPPED 

Dog's Genes Similar to Ours, But Easier To Read 

December 2005 will go down as a landmark month in the history of the conquest of canine and human diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many others. It took 250 scientists organized by the National Genome Research Institute to do it, but the mapping of the dog genome is complete.

The implications of this project, while at first perhaps hard to comprehend, are overwhelmingly deep and extensive. The dog's genome is so similar to the human's that man and dog both stand to benefit greatly from this effort. In fact, in some ways, knowledge of the dog's genome could produce a greater benefit to humans than knowledge of the human genome. Very likely, dogs will become the chief tool in the understanding of human genetic diseases. And, for sure, dogs themselves will profoundly benefit from this work. The research, overseen by the Broad Institute of Harvard, was just published this past month. Scientists say the findings will improve our understanding of disease, behavior, and even evolution.

Specific genetic information is actually easier to find in dogs than in humans. The dog's DNA "book", you might say, is printed in large type, while ours, by comparison, is in fine print. The scientists have sequenced 2.4 billion so-called "letters" of the dog's DNA code. That sounds like a lot of work!

WHAT TO GENES HAVE TO DO WITH CANINE CANCER?

The Future Is Upon Us

Most of us are aware of the environmental factors that can bring on cancer (I say "bring on," not "cause," because I think of environmental influences as triggers of cancer, not causes in themselves). Two dogs can be exposed to identical environments, diets, etc., and one will get cancer, the other not. The reason is because one is genetically more disposed to the disease than the other. That's where genes come in - and why they're so important.

One day, thanks to our mapping of the dog's genome, purchasing a new dog might be a little different than it is today. Suppose you were a buyer choosing between two puppies, Mike and Ike.  Suppose you were handed each dog's complete DNA data. Suppose that Mike's report showed a predisposition to, say, skin cancer. Ike's report showed no such tendency. Assuming everything else is equal, which dog would you choose?

Or say you were a breeder. Suppose you had a DNA report on two prospective sires you were considering. Wouldn't you be interested in breeding the dog whose genes indicated the best overall resistance to a disease such as cancer?

Make no mistake, folks, this is big. 

<<>>

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK THESE LINKS:

Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051207175814.htm

National Geographic News
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1207_051207_dog_genome.html

WFAA.com (registration may be required - free)
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthsciencetv/stories/DN-doggenome_11nat.ART.State.Edition1.3d54040.html

CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/12/07/dog.dna.ap/

Associated Press
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/087nd1.htm

SECOND HAND SMOKE PUTS DOGS AT RISK

A New Study

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology clearly shows that dogs in the homes of smokers stand a greater risk of cancer. Julia Szabo and others report that dogs in smokers' households are at a greater risk of getting cancer than those in non-smoking environments. A word to the wise.
    more here...

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This newsletter is for informational purposes only, and the intent is to provide sources of possible veterinary assistance, treatments and other help for owners of animals with cancer. The authors do not in any way endorse or make claims for any of the medical personnel, medical facilities, treatments, therapies, medicines, or methods recommended, described or quoted herein. Nothing herein should be deemed to be medical or veterinary advice, since no doctors or veterinarians are employed by or connected with this publication. Visitors are directed to consult with licensed veterinarians for all medical advice. Although every effort is made to avoid factual errors, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the content of publication.

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"Sparky Fights Back: A Little Dog's Big Battle Against Cancer,"  
go to our Book Page
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