Larry Schook’s research suggests ‘nature vs. nurture’ debate is far more complex than we thought. By Davi Napoleon Larry Schook, ’72, an internationally prominent researcher
“The biggest question we’re answering with pigs
in genetics, is passionate about problem-solving—and pigs.
has to do with metabolism and its relation to genetics.
Early in his career, Schook worked on mouse
. . . When an animal develops, from fetus to adult, some
genetics at the University of Michigan with some of the top
genes are on and off, on and off,” he says.
genetic scientists in the world. Mice could help us under-
Scientists, who have known this for a long time,
stand genetics, he knew, but would they provide good
once thought there were about 100,000 genes. As it turns
models to study drug metabolism and organ transplanta-
out, there are approximately 20,000—the same gene can
tion? He continued to be puzzled by the fact that as new
be expressed differently in different tissues. It appears
drugs came on the market they seemed to work well, and
many factors may influence gene function. “Some
then side effects would surface. Could that be because
changes in metabolism can cause birth defects,” Schook
the drugs were tested primarily on mice, and mice just
explains. “By looking at changes in metabolism in the pig,
don’t resemble us closely enough?
it’s becoming clearer and clearer that what a woman eats
Now as a professor of animal sciences and bioen-
when she’s pregnant has significant effects on the fetus.”
gineering at the University of Illinois, he has changed his
This has implications for conditions that include schizo-
research focus to pigs as models for biomedical research.
phrenia, autism, and obesity. Pregnant women, careful
Their dietary requirements, maturation process, and gen-
not to smoke or drink, need to be just as careful about
eral physiology resemble those of humans, he explains.
calorie restriction, Schook advises, speculating that the
Like humans, they are omnivores, and like us, they sit
rise in many emerging syndromes is likely linked to weight
around, overeat, and get out of shape. “Pigs are one of the
gain in our society.
few animals where wild ancestors still exist. You can find
He also has found that pigs and humans have
wild boar in a forest in China or Siberia or Sweden,” Schook
similar stem cells. That makes pigs useful when looking at
says. “Wild pigs are fit.” Today geneticists can look at what
regenerative medicine stem cell technologies. Researchers
happens as an animal is domesticated. Do the genomes
can induce heart attacks in pigs, find the genetic triggers,
look different? Can we take any pig and domesticate it, or
and then develop strategies for dealing with cardiovascu-
is domestication predetermined by genetics? Since DNA
lar disease in humans. Biodegradable patches can pull
samples from different pig populations, domestic and
stem cells in to restore function. Scientists can create and
wild, are available for sequencing, researchers now have
study tumors, too. “It’s now possible to genetically modify
the capability to answer these and other questions.
pig cells that cause tumors,” Schook explains.
In his role as director of the international Swine
Through
the
Swine
Genome
Sequencing
Genome Sequencing Consortium, Schook can promote
Consortium, Schook is now working on cataloging genes,
research that will lead to breakthroughs in our understanding
something he compares to creating a library other
of genetics in relation to a range of physiological concerns.
researchers can use. “You can go to the library and find the
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