Mutations across the genome add up to blood cancer risk in three popular dog breeds

Six genetic variants add up to determine the risk of several blood cancers in pre-disposed dog breeds, according to a study by Benoît Hédan at the University of Rennes and colleagues, publishing April 8th in the open-access journal PLOS Genetics. The results confirm a known tumour-suppressor gene as a risk factor for histiocytic sarcoma—a rare and aggressive blood cancer that affects both dogs and humans—as well as identifying four new genetic loci associated with the disease.