Canines as Scientific Pioneers: Unveiling the Impact of Dogs on Human Advancement
Paws on Progress: The Unsung Heroes in Science and Humanity's Evolution
Step aside, humans, and make way for the unrecognized heroes – yes, dogs! You might think we've got it all figured out, but it's our furry friends who've been making breakthroughs for centuries. Here's the lowdown on just a few instances where dogs have played pivotal roles in the annals of history and science.
Digestion Physiology and Reflexes
Heard of Pavlov's dogs? Well, you might not know about the dog named Sharik who came before them. A century before the famous experiment with reflexes, Ivan Pavlov studied digestion in animals, winning a Nobel Prize for his work. To monitor digestion processes, Sharik, the test dog, had glass tubes surgically implanted to track saliva and gastric juice secretion in response to different stimuli. By the way, Sharik ended up in a biological museum in Moscow, so you can go visit him if you ever find yourself there.
Diabetes Treatment
Balancing blood glucose levels is crucial for humans, and without insulin, diabetes meant certain death in the past. But scientists learned to produce insulin artificially, thanks to research conducted on dogs. Canadian surgeon Frederick Banting and his student Charles Best achieved this by restricting the pancreas ducts in test dogs and collecting fluid from the Langerhans islands (hormone-producing cells in the pancreas). They tested this on diabetic dogs with completely removed pancreas glands and found the fluid acted as insulin.
Cloning and Genetic Research
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Cloning, a topic of ongoing debate, has even become a business in some places, like South Korea. The first successfully cloned dog, an Afghan hound named Snuppy, was born in April 2005. Although only two out of 120 surrogate dogs carried the experimental embryos successfully, Snuppy went on to live for ten years and even fathered other puppies when cloned Greyhounds were introduced.
Archaeological Discoveries
Back in 1940, a dog named Robot led its owner to the discovery of a vast cave containing ancient frescoes. The cave walls were adorned with unusual drawings that became quite the tourist attraction in those days. Today, the site is limited to scientists for research purposes, but you can still marvel at the ancient art through photographs.
Space Exploration
Dogs have been space travel pioneers, with many making historical journeys. The first one, Laika, embarked on a mission in November 1957, but unfortunately, the spacecraft had a ventilation system malfunction, causing Laika to die from heat stress shortly after takeoff. However, Belka and Strelka survived their space mission for over a day in August 1960, completing 17 orbits around the Earth before returning home safely.
Arctic Exploration and Canine Heroes
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In the 1890s, dogs played an essential role in the Norwegian polar expedition led by Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen. Their use of dog sleds and skis revolutionized Arctic travel, allowing them to reach a record northern latitude, despite not reaching the North Pole. The first dog known to reach the North Pole was Titina, a pet fox terrier, who did so in the comfort of an airship in 1926. But it was Vesely who truly shone as a pioneer in Ivan Papanin's expedition on the first drifting polar station in 1937-1938. This brave dog helped spot and scare away bears from the food supply, demonstrating remarkable loyalty and bravery.
[1] Simply Animal Science: Domestic Dogs' Contributions to Conservation
[2] Genetic Evidence of Early Dog-Human Relationships
[3] Boris M. Levinson and the Role of Animals in Therapy
[4] AKC Canine Health Foundation: Canine Research Projects
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[5] The Power of Play: How Animals Can Improve Your Mental Health
In the realm of medical-conditions, dogs played a significant role in the development of insulin treatment for diabetes. Canadian surgeon Frederick Banting and his student Charles Best conducted research on dogs by restricting the pancreas ducts in test dogs and collecting fluid from the Langerhans islands, which acted as insulin when tested on diabetic dogs.
Environmental-science advancements include cloning, a topic of debate and even a business in certain regions, with the first successfully cloned dog, Snuppy, being an Afghan hound born in April 2005.
Dogs have also made substantial contributions to various fields of science, including space and astronomy. In the mid-20th century, dogs pioneered space travel, with Belka and Strelka surviving their mission for over a day and completing 17 orbits around the Earth. They paved the way for subsequent canine space explorers.
