http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/May02/XLPRA.chp.html

Gene defect in Siberian huskies & Samoyeds offers dog 'model' for studying inherited human blindness

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University researchers say the discovery of the two different mutations for X-linked progressive retinal atrophy (XLPRA1 and XLPRA2) in dogs, as reported in the May 1, 2002, issue ofHuman Molecular Genetics (Vol. 11, No. 9), provides a new animal "model" for studying causes and testing treatments for inherited human blindness. Dogs' health and well-being will benefit, too, according to scientists at the Baker Institute for Animal Health in Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, because new gene-screening tests will help detect disease-prone animals in breeding programs. The journal report, "DifferentRPGR exon ORF15 Mutations inCanids Provide Insights Into Photoreceptor Cell Degeneration," is the work of Qi Zhang, Gregory M. Acland, Wen X. Wu, Jennifer L. Johnson, Sue Pearce-Kelling and Gustavo D. Aguirre, all at Cornell; Brian Tulloch and Alan F. Wright at the MRC Human Genetics Unit of Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland; and Raf Vervoort at the University of Leuven in Belgium.