A new study led by University of Cambridge researchers reveals that certain genes influencing golden retrievers’ behavior are also linked to human emotional and cognitive traits.
A pioneering study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge has uncovered compelling genetic links between golden retrievers and humans, reshaping our understanding of how certain behaviors and emotional traits manifest in both species.
The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is a significant first. It demonstrates that specific genes affecting behaviors such as fearfulness, energy levels and aggression in golden retrievers also play a role in human traits like anxiety, depression and intelligence.
The team analyzed genetic data from 1,300 golden retrievers, correlating it with behavioral assessments provided by their owners through detailed questionnaires. This innovative approach led to identifying genes responsible for trainability, energy, fear of strangers and inter-dog aggression.
“The findings are really striking – they provide strong evidence that humans and golden retrievers have shared genetic roots for their behaviour. The genes we identified frequently influence emotional states and behaviour in both species,” Eleanor Raffan, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience who led the study, said in a news release.
Among the significant genetic revelations, one gene, PTPN1, was found to be connected to aggression in golden retrievers and is also associated with intelligence and depression in humans.
Another gene, influential in golden retrievers fearful of other dogs, was linked to human tendencies toward prolonged worry over embarrassment and high educational achievement.
The implications of this research extend beyond academic interest. Understanding the shared genetic basis of behavior can inform better training methods and improve care for pets.
“These results show that genetics govern behaviour, making some dogs predisposed to finding the world stressful. If their life experiences compound this they might act in ways we interpret as bad behaviour, when really they’re distressed,” added first author Enoch Alex, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience.
For instance, the gene ROMO1, associated with trainability in golden retrievers, is linked to intelligence and emotional sensitivity in humans. This insight suggests that training should not only focus on rewarding desired behaviors but also consider the dogs’ emotional well-being.
Furthermore, the study provides a new perspective on veterinary care. Recognizing that a behavior like fearfulness might be genetically driven opens potential pathways for treatments similar to those used for anxiety in humans.
The findings underline the notion that genes influence overarching emotional states and behavioral regulation rather than dictating specific behaviors. For example, dogs exhibiting non-social fear (such as fear of buses or vacuum cleaners) have a gene influencing human irritability, sensitivity and anxiety.
“If your golden retriever cowers behind the sofa every time the doorbell rings, perhaps you might have a bit more empathy if you know they’re genetically driven to feel sensitive and anxious,” added co-author Anna Morros-Nuevo, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience.
Co-author Daniel Mills, a professor at the University of Lincoln who is a specialist in problem animal behavior, added: “Dogs in our home share not only our physical environment, but may also share some of the psychological challenges associated with modern living. Our pets may be excellent models of some human psychiatric conditions associated with emotional disturbance.”
The study utilized behavioral data from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study by the Morris Animal Foundation, ongoing since 2012. This comprehensive project involves detailed behavioral questionnaires filled out by owners, combined with genetic analysis from blood samples of the participating dogs.
Source: University of Cambridge