Canine SINEs and Their Effects on Phenotypes of the Domestic Dog

Abstract

Short interspersed elements (SINEs) are mobile elements that contribute to genomic diversity through the addition of genetic material. Recent genomic analyses have vastly augmented our knowledge of both human- and canine-specific SINEs. SINEC Cf is a major SINE of the canid family that has undergone recent expansion and is thought to be present in half of all genes. To date, only three phenotypes of the domestic dog have been attributed to a SINE. One of these is merle, a coat pattern characterized by patches of full color on a diluted background and associated with ocular and auditory anomalies. A SINEC Cf in the SILV gene causes merle patterning by altering the cDNA transcript and has unique characteristics that are likely responsible for the random nature of the phenotype.