Breeding "double muscling" in dogs

[Nikolay]

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Hello, everyone, probably some of you heard of "double muscle" mutations in whipped breed. The purebred dog has a long history of selective breeding, which has produced specific breeds of extraordinary strength, intelligence, and speed. I have made a video in which I discuss a mutation in the canine myostatin gene, a negative regulator of muscle mass, which affects muscle composition, and hence racing speed, in whippets. Dogs that possess a single copy of this mutation are more muscled than normal and are among the fastest dogs in competitive racing events. However, dogs with two copies of the same mutation are grossly overmuscled, superficially resembling double-muscled cattle known to possess similar mutations. This result is the first to quantitatively link a mutation in the myostatin gene to athletic performance. Further, it emphasizes what is sure to be a growing area of research for performance-enhancing polymorphisms in competitive athletics. Future implications include screening for myostatin mutations among elite athletes. In the video I also show step by step breeding program to induce this type of mutation in other breeds as well. I'm a geneticist and will be pappy to answer your questions.

 

[JudyN]

Hi Nikolay,

Could you post the link with the 'https://www' bit removed, please? Then I'll be able to turn it into a link.

Having said that, I'm very, very uncomfortable with the idea of breeding to produce what looks to be abnormal muscle mass - only the wrong people would be attracted to the idea of having a muscly whippet. And that's to say nothing of how this could be misused in the athletics field - though I can appreciate that the knowledge could help in the treatment of some conditions in humans.

 

[Nikolay]

Looks like it is working now. By the way it is naturally happening mutation. Known for over 150 years in a cattle, sheep and dogs. I wonder if some people also have it to a certain extend, may be due to different mutation in this gene - which works in organism for a muscle growth as brakes in a car.

 

[Hemlock]

As you say, it's well known in the whippet world and considered highly undesirable.

 

[Nikolay]

Any way the breeding principles that I describe are applicable to any trait under the control of the recessive gene, so if anyone would like to transfer certain trait from one breed to another one without effecting pure breed characteristics - could use the described mating method.

 

[Nikolay]

I personally also dislike when people are breeding for certain mutations with are harmful for the animal health but considered to be "funny" by some people. For example Munchkin cat (short legs)

 

[RGC]

I personally also dislike when people are breeding for certain mutations with are harmful for the animal health but considered to be "funny" by some people. For example Munchkin cat (short legs)

I think this abomination answers your question. Where’s the morality in meddling with creatures that have no choice? I thought that such initiatives died with Mengele.