Science

 While we like to think our dogs understand us and feel just as much as we do, we are not so sure about this new study that Time Magazine is reporting on.  According to Time

Scientists found a genetic mutation that is linked to Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses in American Staffordshire Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers.  The gene mutation causes NCL which leads to neurological deterioration and eventually death.  The isolation of a gene or genetic mutation is often the first phase in developing increased screening and finding cures for illnesses. 

Robin Abrahams writes for Salon.com about her experience with the Harvard Canine Cognition Lab.  The Lab, which recently came under great scrutiny after its superstar, Mark Hause, was investigated for misconduct, studies the cognition of animals.  After a open volunteer call for the lab Robin brought her dog Milo in for testing.

Biomerica a pharmaceutical company has just received CE mark approval to market and sell a new dog allergyAlso known as atopy an allergy is a hypersensitive reaction to allergens in a dog's environment or food. When the allergen is ingested the dog will have a immunological response which will vary greatly in degree. test in the European Union.  The test, marketed under Fortel(R) Dog allery test, uses one drop of blood to produce results in 15 min.  With over 17 million out patient visits in the U.S. each year nearly $7 billion is spent on allergies annually.

Today Russia is celebrating Belka and Strelka the first two dogs in space. The two street dogs were accompanied by rats, mice and bugs up into outer space to see what the implications of space travel would be for animals.  The group of animals and insects made 17 orbits in space in 25 hours and the Russian space program engineers could hear their barking, an indication they were ok. 

Leave it to scientist to investigate random facts.  Michael Valenzuela at the University of New South Wales in Sydney has studied dog brains of 13 dogs (11 dead and 2 alive) using brain scanning equipment.  He has discovered that over time, with the help of selective breeding, dogs brains in certain breeds have actually rotated forward. 

In England dogs like this Malinois are being trained as a new means to detect prostate cancercancer is a group of diseases caused by cells that transform from normal cells into malignant ones. The malignant cells grow and form tumors and can shed and travel to other areas of the body. When they do travel and spread in other areas they are said to metastasize. These cells draw nutrients and disrupt the normal functioning of the body which can ultimately lead to death..   Because of their incredible sense of smell - able to detect particles 1000 times smaller then humans they are able to pick up illnesses in urine, blood and even from respiration.  Their ability to detect cancer cells in urine could prove to be a very accurate, cost effective and non-invasive way to detect the prostate cancer. 

This is just one of the many cool things dogs are being trained to do in the medical field.

Scientists at UC Los Angeles have found a genetic connection with tiny dogs and Middle Eastern Wolves.  The study found that the IGF1 gene controls body size and they were able to determine that the diminutive size of dogs was likely created through breeding after the domestication of dogs.  The genetic connection with the Middle Eastern Wolf combined with archaeological evidence makes a good solid argument that maybe that Chihuahua came from the Middle East.

Dr. Melissa Gray one of the leaders of the study spoke with ABC News about the findings: