Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
14:40
Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
Changes in the somatotrophic axis in genetically identical dogs
JungEun Park1, HyunJu Oh, MinJung Kim
1Department of Theriogenology & Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Cellular Reprogramming
|July 12, 2011
Summary
Cloned dogs exhibit more consistent growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels than controls. This homogeneity makes cloned animals valuable for studying genotype-environment interactions.
Area of Science:
- Comparative endocrinology
- Canine genetics
- Phenotypic variation
Background:
- Genetically identical cloned animals offer a unique model to study phenotypic variation.
- Understanding factors influencing growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) is crucial for animal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hormone concentration patterns (GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3) between cloned and control dogs.
- To assess the impact of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SRIF) on these hormones in both groups.
Main Methods:
- Hormone levels (GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3) were measured in cloned and age-matched control dogs.
- Hormonal responses to GHRH and SRIF administration were evaluated.
- Statistical analysis compared variability and mean concentrations between groups.
Main Results:
- Cloned dogs showed significantly lower variability (standard deviation) in GH, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 concentrations compared to controls.
- A lower mean IGFBP-3 concentration was observed in clones between 7-12 months.
- GHRH stimulated GH release similarly in both groups, but IGF-1 levels were lower in clones.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic traits related to growth hormone regulation are more homogeneous in cloned dogs.
- Cloned dogs serve as a valuable model for investigating genotype-environment interactions and their impact on physiological traits.
Related Concept Videos
01:43Incomplete Dominance
Gregor Mendel's work (1822 - 1884) was primarily focused on pea plants. Through his initial experiments, he determined that every gene in a diploid cell has two variants called alleles inherited from each parent. He suggested that amongst these two alleles, one allele is dominant in character and the other recessive. The combination of alleles determines the phenotype of a gene in an organism.
01:19Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...
01:37Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
01:16TGF - β Signaling Pathway
The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
01:10Nature and Nurture
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
01:09Epistasis Analysis
Although Mendel chose seven unrelated traits in peas to study gene segregation, most traits involve multiple gene interactions that create a spectrum of phenotypes. When the interaction of various genes or alleles at different locations influences a phenotype, this is called epistasis. Epistasis often involves one gene masking or interfering with the expression of another (antagonistic epistasis). Epistasis often occurs when different genes are part of the same biochemical pathway. The...