This article discusses genetic links between some dog breeds and obesity. Most specifically this study looked a labrador retrivers, a mutation in the POMC gene. This gene mutation affects the dog's appetite, metabolism, and brain pathways. Dogs with this mutation are hungry all the time and burn fewer calories than a dogs without this mutation. In order to better maintain these dogs the text encourages owners to spread out feeding and take steps to make sure that the dogs are receiving proper amounts of exercise.
I found this article very interesting because I didn't know that overeating could be traced back to a gene mutation. I'm interested to see if this kind of research can be performed on humans as well as other species. I also wonder what kinds of treatments can be developed to help with this mutation.
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