Locating quantitative trait loci (QTL) in mammalian systems has proven diff
icult due to the lack of genetic control and reproducibility, as well as th
e expense of maintaining sufficiently large populations for genotyping and
phenotyping. In plants, populations of recombinant inbred lines (progeny br
ed to homozygosity from a single cross) do not have these problems, Methods
developed to identify QTL in a recombinant inbred soybean population provi
de a basis for analysis of a suitable mammalian population, such as Portugu
ese water dogs in the United States. The more than 6,000 dogs have accurate
pedigrees, available phenotypic data and samples for genotyping, as well a
s interesting quantitative trait variation, The computer program Georgie al
lows us to choose large subpopulations with desirable characteristics such
as high degrees of consanguinity that capture some of the benefits of recom
binant inbred lines in plants, Computer simulations extending methods devel
oped for simpler plant populations indicate that QTL with realistic effects
can be identified from such subpopulations. Currently we are developing ma
rkers and collecting phenotypic and genotypic data from this population to
begin the process of unraveling the genetic basis of quantitative traits in
dogs.