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Two life scientists at Gyeongsang National University and a geneticist from the National Institutes of Health, in the U.S. have identified the canine genetic footprint that makes dogs natural herders. In their study in the journal Science Advances, Hankyeol Jeong, Elaine Ostrander and Jaemin Kim carried out whole-genome sequencing and compared phenotypic traits of herding and non-herding breeds to find those associated with characteristics generally associated with herding dogs.

Prior research and a long history of breeding has led to wide-ranging physical, emotional and intellectual traits and capabilities in dog breeds. One group, the herders, are known for their intelligence, social skills, obedience, fine motor skills and a desire to chase but not kill. In this new effort, the team working in South Korea sought to find the gene variants in dogs that are responsible for these traits. To that end, they conducted genetic sequencing on a massive scale, looking at whole genomes of 12 herding breeds and 91 non-herding breeds.

While comparing the genomes across breeds, the team made use of the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog—a database of human genes associated with different phenotypes—for enrichment analysis. The team isolated canine genes that they believe can be tied to the traits that make good herding dogs. Of those, they found that EPHB1, which has been associated with spatial memory, had significant variation between herding breeds.

They note that there are different types of herding dogs, which use different tactics and skill sets to herd—for instance, droving dogs can be considered a subcategory in herding breeds. In their work, the team focused most specifically on the border collie due to its reputation as one of the most intelligent dog breeds, which makes it one of the best herders, as well.

The researchers note that their work was not just about learning more about dogs and how they herd, it was meant to make some inroads into a better understanding of the associations between gene variants and behavioral traits in animals in general and humans in particular.

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