By Lorna Nickson-Brown

BIRMINGHAM, UK – Teenagers in Birmingham, England, are looking at their science lessons and their own pets in a new light after new research carried out by Imperial College London has found serious inherited health problems in pedigree dogs after decades of inbreeding.

The study, published in May in the scientific journal Genetics, found that breeding dogs for physical traits, such as the Dalmatian’s black spots or the bulldog’s massive head, favors appearance over health. The result could be any of a long list of genetic conditions, including arthritis, epilepsy and thyroid abnormalities.

"I think that it is unfair to the animals to be bred in this way,” said Beth Skidmore, 14, a student at Wolverhampton Girls High School in Birmingham. “I used to have a pedigree dog. She was put down because she was going through a lot of pain with her hip and she had had problems with it all her life. This research doesn’t surprise me."

The study’s authors said such breeding practices “must be stopped at risk of furthering the unpleasant and distressing physical circumstances that many British breeds are suffering." They called for expanding the gene pools of popular breeds, in part by encouraging mating across national and continental boundaries.
 
In England, high school students study genetic engineering in science classes and some, like Skidmore, have found the lessons on indirect genetic engineering – traditional breeding, as opposed to gene modification and splicing – have relevance to their own lives.
 
“At school we learned about inbreeding just as a matter of fact," said Joseph Nickson, 15, from Kings Norton Boys’ School in Birmingham. “But people should know how it can affect them and the things they love."

Some students favored pure-bred dogs while considering the new research.
 
"I like designer dogs,” said Jane Newby, 14, of Wolverhampton. "The pedigree dogs I know are really cute. I think we look after them even better because they are so cute."
    
The majority of students, however, showed distress at the idea of pure-bred dogs and some, like Skidmore, vowed to consider breeding background when choosing their pets.

"I can see how science lessons are so important. Not only learning about our biology, but also how our individual choices can affect the biology of other animals. I believe my dog's hip problems were a direct result of inbreeding practices decided by humans. I would not get another pure-bred pet. I think we all need to concentrate on widening the gene pool," said Skidmore.

"I think it's really unfair to the dogs. We have a responsibility and I think people abuse this. Designer babies, designer dogs; it’s the same thing. Who gives us the right to determine another’s life in that way, especially when it ultimately harms them."
 
"People should be more aware about what exactly they are doing and think about the consequences before playing God," said Nickson.
 
The research looked at eight generations of dogs using United Kingdom Kennel Club records on nearly 2 million dogs since 1970. The findings highlighted that certain breeds, boxers for example, were so closely related that 20,000 dogs looked like 70 distinct individuals. Such a small gene pool increases the chance of a dog breeding with a close relative and thus passing on to its offspring genetic abnormalities, such as heart disease.

Caroline Kisko, The Kennel Club Secretary said in a recent interview with the BBC, "Over the last 20 years we have been working to develop tests and health screening schemes to identify and eradicate problems, many of which are historic."
 
The club, while not commenting on any plans to address current breeding practices, emphasized to the BBC that its primary objective is "to promote in every way the general improvement of dogs." The organization was also keen to announce its success in uniting over 100 members of Parliament against the inhumane treatment of dogs in China.
 
In another interview with the BBC, David J. Balding, one of the study’s authors, stated: ’We hope that following our work, dog breeders will make it a high priority to increase the genetic diversity within different breeds. Otherwise, we will see growing numbers of dogs born with serious genetically inherited health problems."