Scientists from the University of Cambridge analyzed the genetic code of 1300 golden retrievers and compared it with their behavior determined by a questionnaire of owners. The study identified 21 genetic loci associated with behavior, including 12 with genome-wide significance, including trainability, energy level, fear of strangers, fear of other dogs, aggression toward other dogs and sensitivity to touch. Genes such as PTPN1 are associated with aggression towards other dogs in golden retrievers and with intelligence, depressive disorder and cognitive performance in humans. ROMO1 gel is linked to trainability in dogs and to intelligence, emotional sensitivity and depression in humans. Of the 18 candidate genes in dogs, 12 (including 7 from genome-wide sites) were associated with psychiatric, temperamental, or cognitive traits in humans, such as anxiety, neuroticism, and irritability. These findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show shared genetic mechanisms of behavior between dogs and humans.[1][5][6]