I just recieved this through our genetics mailing list : THIS ON THE LIST =A9 1995-2008 Informationsdienst Wissenschaft e.V. - Impressum Press Release Genetic marker for joint disease in dogs discovered Sonja of Brethorst, Press and Public Relations Foundation School of Veterinary Medicine Hanover 31.03.2008 TiHo researchers, research prior to meeting The Institute for animal breeding and genetics research of the Foundation School of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ottmar Distl, it is together with the Association of German Shepherd dogs (SV), the Society for the Promotion kynologischer Research (GKF) and the Association for German Hundewesen (VDH) succeeded genetic markers to develop, with the German shepherd dogs in the assessment for H=FCftgelenkdysplasie (HD) can be established. The H=FCftgelenkdysplasie i= n dogs is the most important disease of the movement's institutions. It comes in all races, is at large and fast-growing but often breed! ! s more
pronounced. The hereditary disease results from an aberration of the hip joint and leads patients to severe pain during the movement. On Wednesday, 2 April 2008, from 9:45 am, the scientists presented their current research findings in the auditorium of the Institute of Pathology, B=FCnteweg 17 to a broad audience breeders and veterinarians. At the meeting, we invite you warmly. The elucidation of the molecular genetic disease at the same time serves as a model to show how it is possible diseases caused by the interaction of many genes and complex metabolic processes, with molecular genetic techniques to combat. Through the application of the new test procedure, it will be possible to selectively breed and thus inherited H=FCftgelenkdysplasie back at the dog. In continuation to the researchers new insights into the origins of the disease and thus win approaches for the development of new therapeutic approaches and develop
preventive measures. With no other animal we have such an extensive knowledge of physical features, behavioral characteristics and inherited diseases such as Small dog. About a hundred molecular genetic diseases have been explored. But it is only about individual genes, complex disorders were at the dog has not yet been elucidated with molecular methods. Even when people are genetically complex diseases, such as joints, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, difficult to process, the dog can be used as a model for diseases in humans. That speaks well that dogs is a very similar environment with the people and therefore share similar environmental conditions and living conditions are like humans. The President of the Foundation of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Dr. Gerhard Greif, together with the President of the Association of German Shepherd dogs Wolfgang Henke, Christofer Habig, president of the Association of the German dog care,
open the event. For further information, please contact: Prof. Dr. Ottmar Distl Institute for animal breeding and genetics research Tel (05 11) 9 53 88 75 E-mail: @ ottmar.distl tiho-hannover.de URL of this press release: http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news253028 Characteristics of this press release: Biology and Biotechnology, Medicine and Health Sciences Transregional Rese

Maybe I read it wrong but it sounds more like they are announcing a strong commitment to do extensive research to find the genetic markers for HD, rather than having already found them.

Doesn't matter HD is just as much environmental as genetic......huh?

(Note sarcasim)

 The translation is poor and confused. Read the original German (the link is there). If I have time later (or perhaps someone can), I will translate it so others can read it too, or give a brief synopsis.

I look forward to it.  Thanks Hodie.

A few things got lost in translation... In summary (will leave out the non-essential stuff for readers here), the SV, the VDH, the GKF and the foundation for animal breeding and genetic research of the vet school in Hannover have developed genetics markers that make it possible to detect a predisposition for HD in the GSD. The celluar [molecular genetic] insights into HD serve as model to show how it is possible to fight diseases that develop due to the interaction of multiple genes and complex metabolic processes with celluar [molecular genetic] techniques. With the implementation of these new testing procedures it will be possible to gain new insights about the development of HD, and thus develop starting points for the development of new therapies and preventative measures. The new tests will make it possible to breed selectively and lessen the hereditary factors of HD. Scientists then want to use the resulting new findings about the development of HD as a starting point for the development of therapies and preventative measures. [....] Complex diseases of dogs that involve more than a single gene have not been resolved so far with cellular methods. Complex diseases of humans are also difficult to treat, the dog can serve as a model for complex diseases of man since dogs share a very similar environment with people and experience similar environmental influences and life styles.

So they officially acknowledge HD influences that are non-genetic, and that they are still at the very beginning of finding applicable solutions and that they will be using these markers as a starting point to come up with new insights about how HD will develop in a dog and how this will lead to new treatments and prevention.

Very promising indeed. 

A good summary above....no need for me to add. The bottom line, just like in humans, there is a predisposition genetically determined that can, in some instances, be modified for good or ill by environmental influences. Molecular genetics will come up with therapies to treat the genetic influences in time.

In the meantime (and this is NOT stated in the article),  maintaining a dogs proper weight, providing proper nutrition for the pregnant female and developing pups, providing appropriate exercise for pups and dogs, especially those who show HD etc., and using common sense in raising a dog who might be predisposed to such a problem is the best alternative.

Thats kind of what I got out of it...the first couple sentences of the article were enough to get me excited...finding Markers for HSD - as polygenic a trait it is - is very exciting!

~Cate

I have yet to study this further, but the paper only involved 459 doggies, but nevertheless prove my studies, and my thesis that less than 50% of all GSDs have sound hips!

Quote: "The distribution of CHD scores in our data was 29.8% A,18.6% B, 44.6% C, 6.7% D, and 0.4% E.