Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Jacob sheep and Tay-Sachs disease

There is a unique connection between Jacob sheep and Tay-Sachs disease in people.

Jacobs are a rare breed of small, piebald, multi-horned sheep. Tay-Sachs is a deadly disease of the nervous system passed down through families.

Jacob sheep
Recent research has revealed that Tay-Sachs disease exists in some flocks of Jacob sheep. The initial diagnosis goes back ten years to a Texas farm that lost four Jacob lambs to strange neurological symptoms.

Now, Jacob sheep are being used as a model to study Tay-Sachs disease. More specifically, they are being used to develop gene therapies that may one day provide a cure for the deadly disease.

Read ALBC newsletter article

No comments: