Is Aggression in Golden Retrievers associated with genes?

Aggression in dogs can be associated with numerous different ideas including the nature versus nurture debate. Another idea being tested is whether genetics plays a part in the aggressive behavior of dogs. In this study the researchers tested whether the specific Serotonin genes htr1A, htr1B, htr2A, and slc6A4 played a factor in the aggressive behavior of the normally friendly Golden Retriever Breed. These four genes were used in this study because each of them show a form of aggression whether its lacking of the gene, an excess of the gene, or just having a mutated form of the gene. When tested on mice they showed either reduced aggression or increased aggression. To determine this, scientists compiled many different techniques.

One technique was where they took the DNA of known aggressive and non aggressive Golden Retrievers for comparison in the linkage analysis and mutation screening with DNA isolation. The next technique was linkage analysis, a statistical measure for determining the passage of these genes from parents to offspring. For this measure they took nine families of Golden Retrievers and compared the genes of both aggressive and non aggressive dogs. Once that was done they performed an association study to test for a more complex variation of the genes and if it had any effect on human directed aggression shown in some of the dogs. This study used an algorithm, a pre-set mathematical procedure, in testing this theory. The last technique used was a quantitative genetic analysis where they took the effects of the DNA sequences of the genes into account for aggression.

They found that with just the DNA isolation for mutation screening that there were no differences in these genes between the aggressive and non aggressive dogs. In the linkage analysis they found that these genes did play a factor in aggression in Golden Retrievers. All in all, though these four genes are not associated with aggressive in dogs, it does not mean that genes do not play a factor in it. The association study showed no significant difference in the DNA sequence of these genes showing that it is not associated with the aggression in the digs. The final analysis showed no significant effect on anything they measured and that the genetic differences between the aggressive and non aggressive dogs had nothing to do with the four genes studied. They also found that this study contradicts some studies out there that show that genes do in fact play a role in aggression.

I learned that even though certain genes play a part in aggression in some animals, it does not mean that it has the same effect on all animals as shown in this study. I thought this article was interesting because I am a dog lover with a very aggressive dog. So learning if genes played a part in his becoming aggressive is good to know. I wonder that if something is in our genes does that mean we have to show it and if so can it be altered. If this article took four specific genes and isolated them in dogs for an answer, is it possible and reliable to take genes to see who will turn out to be criminal or lawyers or different occupations.
Jaleesa Scott