Everyone loves Labrador retrievers, even people who hate dogs. They are wonderful and the internet is wise to create endless videos of them. But if you own one of these goofy fuzzballs, you quickly notice they’re unusually, ah, “food-motivated,” even by the standards of dogs. If you’re not careful, they become big fat fuzzballs; in fact, Labs are the most likely breed of dog to become obese. There’s a reason for that, and it may help us discover how to keep the pounds off.
A new study has found that a quarter of all Labs have a genetic mutation on the POMC gene, which plays a role in both dogs and humans regulating blood sugar and weight. As the study points out, as we’ve gotten fatter, so have our Labs, and it appears the POMC mutation is part of it. Basically, a quarter of all Labs can’t produce the neuropeptides involved in turning off hunger. So, a Lab will eat, and eat, and eat, and barf, and eat and never feel sated. Yes, science is sometimes a massive downer.
This mutation is also absent from other breeds, aside from the flat-coat retriever. Curiously, it’s especially prevalent in assistance dogs, perhaps because their food motivation makes them easier to train. Now research turns to whether humans might have similar genetic issues, which might support why our bodies fight weight loss efforts tooth and nail. If it turns out to be something we can use, expect the Labrador retriever to get a permanent lock on the title of man’s best friend.
(via Gizmodo)
