TOP ＞ Project Execution Structure ＞ Execution Plan
① Cognitive interaction analysis: Standard gaze measurements during interaction between humans and dogs will be established. Further, interaction links will be discovered through dynamic motion analysis using motion capture.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: Diseases will be selected through genetic analysis from the canine gene-related diseases in our university’s gene bank based on their significance to determine candidate diseases. Further, candidates for cognitive genes related to coevolution will be narrowed down through comprehensive gene sequencing of Japanese dog breeds, wolves, and common dog breeds.
③ Microbe cross-talk: The effects of pet ownership will be determined using human epidemiological data.
① Cognitive interaction analysis: Measurement of canine eye gaze during interactions will be implemented through image analysis and position measurement. Micro movements will be recorded using motion capture and human-canine dynamic motion analysis will be applied to determine key behaviors.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: Serious diseases will be selected from the gene-related disorders represented in our canine gene bank (16,000 specimens) that have a sample size large enough for analysis. The individual information of the relevant dogs will be controlled to prepare a sample. Further, candidate cognitive genes involved in coevolution will be chosen primarily from oxytocin, WBSCR17, and MC2R and polymorphic sites revealed.
③ Microbe cross-talk: In a collaborative study with the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, epidemiological data from 3,300 humans will be analyzed for the presence or absence of pet ownership to investigate the mental and physical effects of owning pets.
[Necessary Funds]50 million yen
① Cognitive interaction analysis: Dynamic motor analysis will be implemented through motion capture of interactions with the pet’s owner and a stranger to explore the affinity-cognitive response relationship.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: Comprehensive SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analysis will be performed on DNA from a canine disease group and a canine non-disease group. Polymorphism analysis, including SNP analysis, will be performed for coevolutionary genes as well.
③ Microbe cross-talk: The relationship between human epidemiological data and bacterial flora will be analyzed using Bayesian estimation.
① Cognitive interaction analysis: Communication with a dog will be carried out with the owner and a stranger, and human-canine interaction factors in those settings will be extracted through motion capture to identify cognitive factors that change due to affinity.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: A genome-wide association study will be performed using a dog-specific DNA chip for the purpose of SNP analysis of DNA samples from a canine disease group and a canine non-disease group to reveal SNP appearing in the disease group. The frequency with which polymorphisms appear will be compared using Japanese dog breeds and Western dog breeds focusing on oxytocin, WBSCR17, and MC2R as cognition-related genes involved in coevolution. Analysis of the relation to cognitive capacity will be performed.
③ Microbe cross-talk: Analysis of human epidemiological data will be performed using Bayes’ theorem in combination with analysis of the presence or absence of pet ownership and changes in bacterial flora to create a model of microorganism symbiosis.
[Necessary Funds] 50 million yen
① Cognitive interaction analysis: In a collaborative study with the Japan Guide Dog Association, the relationship between gaze and training results will be determines based on interactions between trainers and dogs in training.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: Genetic diseases and genetic mutations possibly related to coevolution from the comprehensive SNP analysis data will be analyzed to narrow down candidate genes.
③ Microbe cross-talk: Shared structural analysis will be performed for human epidemiological data and changes in bacterial flora to narrow down beneficial bacteria. Additionally, the physiological effects brought about by canine bacterial flora will be investigated using mice.
① Cognitive interaction analysis: In collaboration with the Japan Guide Dog Association, the interaction between a trainer and a dog in training will be explored using a method of analysis determined based on the abovementioned motion capture to create a scientific basis for judging training efficacy and suitability as a guide dog.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: Analysis of SNP, genes including SNP, or genes that may be connected to gene-related diseases around SNP as determined through comprehensive SNP analysis will be performed to investigate the relationship between actual mutations and gene-related diseases and reveal candidate genes. Regarding cognitive genes involved in coevolution, the selection will be narrowed down to useful dog breeds, including Japanese dog breeds, analysis of the association within the same breed will be performed through a behavioral experiment, and false positives will be excluded from the relationship.
③ Microbe cross-talk: Beneficial bacteria with the highest coefficient of determination regarding mental and physical development according to structural analysis of epidemiological data and bacterial flora will be selected. Further, bacterial flora derived from canine saliva will be administered to mice to reveal whether there are changes in oxytocin secretion, inflammation, or central nervous function through analysis of molecule expression dynamics.
[Necessary Funds] 50 million yen
① Cognitive interaction analysis: An intervention experiment in which oxytocin is administered in the setting of human-canine interaction will be conducted to reveal the function of oxytocin in cognitive interactions.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: It will be confirmed whether variations similar to those in the revealed candidate genes are observed in a different sample. Additionally, polymorphic genes identified in cultured cells will be introduced to reveal the function of polymorphism in gene expression.
③ Microbe cross-talk: A method for culturing beneficial bacteria will be established and the physiological effects brought about by that bacterial strain explored using mice.
① Cognitive interaction analysis: Oxytocin will be administered transnasally to canines or humans in the setting of cognitive interaction to reveal changes in the duration of the interaction as well as improvement in cognitive function due to increased exogenous oxytocin. The oxytocin administration method has previously been established at our university, so this will not be a challenge.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: Regarding candidate gene variations, DNA specimens in the gene bank from a group distinct from the disease group will be collected and analysis performed to determine whether the same variations can be found in the candidate genes. As for coevolutionary cognitive genes, because there are many genes related to endocrine function, urinary hormone concentrations will be measured and correlation analysis with genotype performed.
③ Microbe cross-talk: Beneficial bacteria and bacterial flora derived from canine saliva will be administered to mice to reveal whether there are changes in oxytocin secretion and consequent changes in inflammatory molecule expression, improvement in inflammation, or social function after reaching adulthood.
[Necessary Funds]50 million yen
① Cognitive interaction analysis: A new method of rearing and training guide dogs that applies the established cognitive interaction model will be introduced. Further, the effect of interactions between children with autism and dogs will be examined through oxytocin measurement.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: The relationship between genetic variations that are candidates for involvement in gene-related disease and actual gene-related disease will be verified.
③ Microbe cross-talk: A method of culturing beneficial bacteria will be established in order to identify the molecules produced by those bacteria.
① Cognitive interaction analysis: The interaction model will be applied to dogs in training at the Japan Guide Dog Association, and variables, including the dogs’ way of interacting with humans and the degree of gaze attention during training, will be measured to introduce an effective training method. Additionally, interactions between children with autism and dogs will be analyzed and oxytocin levels following the exchange measured to explore the frequency of gaze use in autistic children and changes in how they engage with their parents.
② Identification of coevolutionary genes: A mouse model similar to the candidate genetic variations will be created using the CRISPR-Cas9 method. An empirical study of the effects brought about by the genetic variations will be performed for the identification of causative genes. Concerning symbiotic cognitive genes, creation of a cultured cell expression system or mouse model will be attempted to facilitate a functional demonstration.
③ Microbe cross-talk: A method for culturing useful bacteria will be established and beneficial substances will be narrowed down with mass spectrometry using a mouse model. Candidate substances will be administered to mice to substantiate the effects and identify beneficial substances.
[Necessary Funds] 50 million yen
