Cog-Dog Radio Herding Dog Brains with Dr Jessica Perry Hekman
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Nov 11, 2025 Dr. Jessica Perry Heckman, a biotech researcher and host of the Functional Breeding Podcast, delves into the fascinating differences in the brains of herding dogs versus their non-herding counterparts. She discusses the latest genomic research, highlighting the significance of selective sweeps in analyzing behavioral traits. The conversation also covers specific genes, including the intriguing EPHB1, and their links to learning and cognitive abilities in Border Collies. Plus, they explore the genetic distinctions between working and show lines, revealing how their roles shape behavior.
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How GWAS Reveals Candidate Regions
- Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) find genome regions linked to traits by comparing many dogs with/without the trait.
- GWAS points to regions for follow-up but does not automatically identify the causal gene or mechanism.
Selective Sweeps And What They Mean
- Selective sweeps occur when selection favors a mutation and surrounding DNA 'hitches a ride', producing large genomic regions of similarity.
- Sweep size shrinks over time, so region length gives a rough idea of selection's age.
Herding Sweeps Point To Brain-Related Genes
- Initial analysis found 2,624 genes in herding-breed sweeps, then filtered to genes present in multiple breeds.
- The filtered set was enriched for human traits like educational attainment and intelligence, highlighting brain-related targets.