Heather Huson’s path to animal genetics happened by chance. Growing up racing sled dogs, she hoped to tie her interests in the sport into becoming a veterinarian. Her path was altered when she happened to land a job at a genetics lab at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. Working with a researcher to understand the genetics in sled dogs and wildlife, Huson was inspired to pursue a career as an animal geneticist.
When she’s not busy teaching genetics courses or working at the raptor barns with the Cornell Raptor Program, Huson leads a team of undergraduate students, graduate researchers and animal technicians who assist in her research at the Odyssey DNA Lab. The Lab’s mission is to understand the genetics of working dogs—sled dogs, guide dogs and detection dogs. These genetics are explored through the dogs’ health, behavior and physical traits, which all are indicators of their longevity and performance.
With each “class” of working dogs comes a different project and a team of student researchers. The sled dogs are a primary focus of Huson’s lab. Her Aging Project sees sled dogs as the model working dog, as these animals typically retire after six years when they are still healthy, and Huson has access to dogs with similar upbringing and genetic background.
“For the past five years, the project has focused on longevity, behavior and overall aging,” said Huson. “Seeing how these variables change over time and how these traits relate to the genome of the dog are both important to track.”
