About

Heather J Huson is an Associate Professor of Animal Genetics and Associate Department Chair at CALS, with a joint appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, and an adjunct appointment in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Her research uses modern genomic tools to investigate ancestry, relatedness, and mutations associated with health, performance, longevity, and adaptation in domestic and wild species. Her overarching goal is to enhance understanding of the genetic regulation of traits and relationships among animals to inform better management practices that improve animal health, welfare, and performance. Her diverse background combines animal breeding and training, veterinary technician experience, and molecular genetics across livestock, companion animals, and wildlife species, allowing her to apply methodologies across species and adapt to changing research needs. Her primary research focuses on working dog and dairy cattle genetics, exploring topics such as athletic performance, behavior, health, longevity, and the genetic basis of traits in species like sled dogs, dairy cattle, musk ox, and other Arctic wildlife. She also studies the conservation genetics of musk ox populations and the genetics of fiber traits in musk ox, contributing to both applied animal improvement and conservation efforts. In addition to her research, she is dedicated to education, teaching core courses in animal genetics, mentoring students, and conducting outreach through seminars and workshops. She is also the Director of the Cornell Raptor Program, which supports environmental conservation education and research through the care of birds of prey and outreach activities.

Research topics

• Genetics
• Biology
• Computer Science
• Evolutionary biology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Paleontology
• Statistics
• Computational biology
• Demography

Selected publications

• Thermodynamic scaling of canine aging and reversible clock deceleration by a reverse transcriptase inhibitor

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2026-02-12

  articleOpen access

  Aging was tracked in a cohort of 99 “retired” sled dogs over four years to characterize the latent dynamics of physiological decline. Animals were randomized to receive either placebo or the reverse transcriptase inhibitor lamivudine for ∼30 months. We employed a variational autoregressive model to integrate longitudinal blood parameters and DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles. The model defines Biological Age (BA) as a signature of irreversible damage with Poissonian statistics, a feature conserved across mammalian scales. Lamivudine modulated age-independent latent variables and temporarily decelerated the DNAm clock in females, but these effects were reversible upon treatment discontinuation and did not alter the long-term BA trajectory. Critically, we show that physiological fluctuations are governed by a single systemic factor – an effective or phenotypic temperature representing an emergent (macroscopic) property. We show that while the rate of damage accumulation (the BA slope) is independent of this temperature, actuarial aging parameters (initial mortality and the Gompertz exponent) are strongly temperature dependent. This supports a model where mortality arises from effective activation across a protective free energy barrier that erodes with age. These findings identify phenotypic temperature as an important control variable governing the kinetics of organism-level failure, offering a compelling target for interventions aimed at extending healthspan by “squaring” the survival curve.

  PublisherDOI

• Phenome-wide study connects behavioral genetics of odor detection dogs with temperament traits

  Scientific Reports · 2026-03-11

  articleOpen access

  We conducted a Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) to investigate whether alleles previously shown to be associated with problem behaviors in Labrador Retrievers from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) odor detection program also show behavioral associations in other populations. The original TSA cohort (2002–2013) consisted of dogs from a former breeding program that drew from U.S. commercial sources and the Australian Customs Service. While those data included TSA testing results from the foster period, detailed behavior profiles and reasons for elimination from the program were not recorded. To extend and validate these genetic associations in populations with richer behavioral data, we analyzed three additional Labrador Retriever cohorts with both genotype and C-BARQ behavioral questionnaire data: (1) Australian pet dogs, (2) UK dogs from a mixed pet and working background (primarily gamebird retrieving), and (3) U.S. working guide dogs. This analysis identified a total of 15 associations between 12 behavioral traits and 8 markers at 6 genome loci. Notably, we found four types of aggression and one type of fear that are directed at familiar humans or dogs, but none directed at unfamiliar ones. Other problem traits identified include separation-related behaviors, excitability, and chasing small animals. Furthermore, we utilized whole genome sequencing to identify a functional candidate associated with “aggression when approached by a household dog at a favorite resting place”. We propose this variant in an ADAMTSL1 intron results in the loss of TCF7L1 protein binding, and we highlight the evolutionary history of that conserved element, including the fixation of two mutations in the human lineage. Our PheWAS findings suggest relevance to working dog selection, breeding, and training, presenting opportunities to reduce costs while improving performance and resilience.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effect of Continuous Selection in KiwiCross® Composite Breed on Breed Ancestry and Productivity Performance

  Animals · 2025-01-10

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Composite crosses result from the mating of two or more distinct cattle breeds. Breeding performance may improve rapidly using a well-organized composite breeding system and a clear selection index. The KiwiCross® is a popular composite cross in New Zealand, combining Holstein-Friesian (high milk production) and Jersey (high milk fat). Production efficiency (PR), a key selection index, is calculated by dividing milk solids produced by mature live weight. Over decades of genetic improvement, KiwiCross® increased milk production significantly. We hypothesized that certain genomic regions from Holstein-Friesian or Jersey breeds were preserved due to artificial selection based on PR. Analysis of genomic regions using XP-EHH, hapFLK, and ROH haplotype statistics revealed selection signatures on BTA 7 and 20 in both high- and low-performance animals, with distinct regions linked to Holstein-Friesian and Jersey ancestry. Our findings suggest that selection acted on different genomic regions across generations and that preserving key ancestry-specific haplotypes is crucial for maintaining performance in composite breeds. Breeders must recognize that selection for specific traits can alter allele frequencies and lead to the loss of beneficial breed-specific haplotypes over time.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 246 Serum metabolomics of senior dogs fed a fresh, human-grade food or an extruded kibble diet.

  Journal of Animal Science · 2025-10-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feeding a fresh, human-grade food versus a standard extruded kibble diet in a year-long longitudinal study on serum metabolomic profiles in senior dogs (>12 years of age). Both foods were complete and balanced for all life stages. Prior to the beginning of the study, all dogs were fed the extruded diet (control) for a period of 4 months. Group 1 (n=10) continued on the extruded diet for the remainder of the study. Group 2 (n=12) was fed The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe (treatment). Individual dog body weight and body condition were assessed monthly, and their daily calorie intake was adjusted as needed to maintain body weight and an ideal body condition (4-5 out of 9). Individual serum samples were collected at Day 0 and months 1, 3, 6 and 12. Metabolomic profiling of all serum samples was performed by Metabolon (Durham, NC) at a single time point. Quality control was performed using both internal laboratory-developed standards and study-specific endogenous metabolites using pooled serum samples. Data was analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures to determine whether the means of two populations were different. Metabolites having a P < 0.05 (following a false discovery rate adjustment) were considered different among the two groups. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) identifiers were used from commercial databases. A total of 1196 serum metabolites (1036 named and 160 unnamed) were identified. Of these, 273 metabolites had a main treatment effect, 702 had a main time effect, and 305 had a treatment and time interaction. Dogs fed the fresh, human-grade fresh food had an increase in branched-chain amino acid metabolism, creatine, fatty acid metabolism, long-chain n-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and alpha-linolenic acid), lipolysis, and ketogenesis (3-hydroxybutyrate and butyrate). Additionally, this group had decreased advanced glycation end products (N6-carboxymethyllysine and pyrraline), fatty acid synthesis and creatinine. In summary, senior dogs fed the fresh, human-grade food had increased metabolites consistent with ketosis in dogs. Furthermore, the treatment group had decreased levels of advanced glycation end products associated with feeding a minimally processed food when compared to the control group.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Baladi Cattle are a genetic sieve for Indicine and African-taurine genomic loci with positive effects on adaptation to harsh Mediterranean environments

  BMC Genomics · 2025-07-21

  preprintOpen access

  BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean indigenous Baladi cattle is known for its exceptional adaptability to harsh environment, making it a prime candidate for sustainable grazing systems amid global climate change. This study investigates the ancestors of the Baladi genome, genomic regions under selection, and adaptation mechanisms of Baladi cattle. RESULTS: A unique balanced global admixture of taurine and indicine genomes was found, composed of indicine, European taurine and African taurine ancestors. A total of 103 chromosomal regions with significant local deviation were found, taken as selection signatures. A clear tendency of selection for the indicine and African taurine ancestors at the expense of European taurine was observed. Bioinformatics analysis of the selection signature regions revealed genes candidates by location and function to affect Baladi adaptive selection. CONCLUSIONS: The Baladi genome is a unique rich mosaic of three domesticated bovine sub-specie lineages. Thus, the Baladi cattle is a mixture already sieved for adaptation to the harsh Mediterranean climate. These findings emphasize the urgent need for conservation efforts to preserve the genetic diversity and adaptive traits of this valuable, endangered breed.

  PublisherDOI

• Performance Comparison of Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction and Four Machine Learning Models for Estimating Genomic Breeding Values in Working Dogs

  Animals · 2025-02-02 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  This study investigates the efficacy of various genomic prediction models—Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP)—in predicting genomic breeding values (gEBVs). The phenotypic data include three binary health traits (anodontia, distichiasis, oral papillomatosis) and one behavioral trait (distraction) in a population of guide dogs. These traits impact the potential for success in guide dogs and are therefore routinely characterized but were chosen based on differences in heritability and case counts specifically to assess gEBV model performance. Utilizing a dataset from The Seeing Eye organization, which includes German Shepherds (n = 482), Golden Retrievers (n = 239), Labrador Retrievers (n = 1188), and Labrador and Golden Retriever crosses (n = 111), we assessed model performance within and across different breeds, trait heritability, case counts, and SNP marker densities. Our results indicate that no significant differences were found in model performance across varying heritabilities, case counts, or SNP densities, with all models performing similarly. Given its lack of need for parameter optimization, GBLUP was the most efficient model. Distichiasis showed the highest overall predictive performance, likely due to its higher heritability, while anodontia and distraction exhibited moderate accuracy, and oral papillomatosis had the lowest accuracy, correlating with its low heritability. These findings underscore that lower density SNP datasets can effectively construct gEBVs, suggesting that high-cost, high-density genotyping may not always be necessary. Additionally, the similar performance of all models indicates that simpler models like GBLUP, which requires less fine tuning, may be sufficient for genomic prediction in canine breeding programs. The research highlights the importance of standardized phenotypic assessments and carefully constructed reference populations to optimize the utility of genomic selection in canine breeding programs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Breeding values and index creation for health and behavior traits in Labrador Retriever guide dogs

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2025-09-10

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Introduction: Genomic breeding values and multi-trait selection indices have significantly advanced genetic improvement in livestock but remain underutilized in guide dog breeding. This study developed a genomically informed selection framework for a population of Labrador Retrievers by integrating health (e.g., dental, ocular, and dermatological conditions) and behavioral (e.g., trainability, distraction level, pace) traits into a "Behavior Score," "Health Score," and "Total Score" index by applying Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) to estimate breeding values. Results: Phenotypic and genotypic data were collected from 844 dogs over 26 years at The Seeing Eye guide dog school. Predictive performance was evaluated via five-fold cross-validation and correlation-based metrics. Results showed that some dentition related health traits exhibited moderate to high Area Under Receiving Operating Characteristic (AUROC) values (0.79-0.87), indicating potential for immediate use for genetic improvement. In contrast, most other health traits demonstrated weak to moderate predictive accuracy. Behavioral traits exhibited lower predictive accuracy but showed a stronger association with training success. Models were commonly unable to correctly classify individuals for binary or ordinal traits yet performed well in ranking individuals, likely due to lower heritability or strong environmental influences of traits or limitations of the dataset itself. The behavior-focused Total Score (AUROC ~0.72) outperformed health-based indices as a fixed effect in predicting breeding success despite the weaker predictive ability of individual behavioral traits. Incorporating parental scores as fixed effects modestly improved breeding values for success, indicating the importance of integrating additional data sources where available. Discussion: While these findings underscore the utility of genomic selection for guide dog breeding, they also highlight constraints stemming from small, genetically homogeneous populations and variable phenotyping. Ultimately, we provide the first usable individual and multi-trait genomic approaches to enhance both health and performance outcomes in working dog programs and a foundation to expand upon the reference population and behavioral trait assessment to improve prediction accuracy in the future.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Breeding Selection for U.S. Siberian Huskies Has Altered Genes Regulating Metabolism, Endurance, Development, Body Conformation, Immune Function, and Behavior

  Genes · 2025-11-10 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: The Siberian Husky has evolved as a versatile dog capable of traversing over 1600 km in extreme Arctic conditions, being a competitive show dog in the American Kennel Club, or a favorite pet for companionship. Modern genomics provides an opportunity to explore the biological implications of selection within the Siberian Husky breed for the purpose of sledding, show, or pet. Methods: We identified regions of genetic selection associated with sledding, show, or pet purposes using a whole-genome panel of 234 K SNPs from 237 Siberian Huskies. We assessed allelic variation using Wright’s FST and selective sweeps with runs of homozygosity (ROH). Results: Genomic and morphometric measurement principal component analyses identified population structure aligning with breeding purpose. In total, 118 SNPs demonstrated significant allelic variation (FST ≥ 0.6) and 22,598 ROH segments were identified within the Siberian Husky breed. ROH islands (n = 91) highlighted selective sweeps, whereas homozygosity association tests characterized regions of the genome under differential selection between populations. Genes within regions were assessed using GO and KEGG pathway analysis for biological insight. Pet dogs showed selection for olfactory performance genes, whereas show dogs were selected for immune function, tissue and nervous system development, and cytoskeletal motor activity. Sledding Siberian Huskies were selected for the development of muscle organs, lung vasculature, limbs, bones, eye structure, and pigmentation, plus genes influencing lipid metabolism and glucose transport. Conclusions: In all, this provides the first evidence of the biological impact of genetic selection within a breed for the distinct sledding, show, and pet purposes while simultaneously maintaining overall population uniformity to meet breed standards.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Serum Metabolomics of Senior Dogs Fed a Fresh, Human-Grade Food or an Extruded Kibble Diet

  Metabolites · 2025-10-17 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Background/Objectives: Despite the growing popularity of fresh food for dogs, there is an extremely small amount of literature evaluating the potential health benefits of fresh food and reduced processing compared to traditionally processed shelf stable cans, extruded kibble, or other food formats. Additionally, aging dogs have been previously documented to have altered metabolism and nutritional needs compared to a healthy adult dog population, but these differences are not well defined. The objective of the study was to compare the effects of feeding a fresh, human-grade food versus a standard extruded kibble diet in a year-long longitudinal study on serum metabolomic profiles in senior dogs. Methods: Twenty-two healthy mixed-breed geriatric Alaskan sled dogs were age- and sex matched into two feeding groups. All dogs were fed the extruded diet (control) for a 4-month washout period prior to being transitioned into their respective treatment group. Group 1 continued to be fed the control diet, while Group 2 was transitioned to a fresh, human-grade food (treatment). Body weight and body condition were assessed monthly, and calorie intake was adjusted to maintain body weight. Individual serum samples were collected at day 0 and months 1, 3, 6, and 12. Metabolomic profiling of serum samples was performed by Metabolon, Inc. (Durham, NC, USA). Data was analyzed using two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures to determine treatment differences. Results: Dogs fed the treatment food had an increase in branched-chain amino acid metabolism, creatine, carnosine, anserine, fatty acid metabolism, long-chain n-3 fatty acids, lipolysis, and ketogenesis. The treatment group had decreased advanced glycation end products, fatty acid synthesis, and creatinine. Conclusions: This study is the first long-term feeding study evaluating serum metabolomics in dogs that demonstrates the dramatic and sustained impact that diet can have on canine metabolism.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Comparative Population Genomics of Arctic Sled Dogs Reveals a Deep and Complex History

  Genome Biology and Evolution · 2024-08-28 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Recent evidence demonstrates genomic and morphological continuity in the Arctic ancestral lineage of dogs. Here, we use the Siberian Husky to investigate the genomic legacy of the northeast Eurasian Arctic lineage and model the deep population history using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. Utilizing ancient dog-calibrated molecular clocks, we found that at least two distinct lineages of Arctic dogs existed in ancient Eurasia at the end of the Pleistocene. This pushes back the origin of sled dogs in the northeast Siberian Arctic with humans likely intentionally selecting dogs to perform different functions and keeping breeding populations that overlap in time and space relatively reproductively isolated. In modern Siberian Huskies, we found significant population structure based on how they are used by humans, recent European breed introgression in about half of the dogs that participate in races, moderate levels of inbreeding, and fewer potentially harmful variants in populations under strong selection for form and function (show, sled show, and racing populations of Siberian Huskies). As the struggle to preserve unique evolutionary lineages while maintaining genetic health intensifies across pedigreed dogs, understanding the genomic history to guide policies and best practices for breed management is crucial to sustain these ancient lineages and their unique evolutionary identity.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Elaine A. Ostrander

  National Institutes of Health

  45 shared

• Curtis P. Van Tassell

  Agricultural Research Service

  37 shared

• Tad S. Sonstegard

  35 shared

• Jonathan A. Runstadler

  Tufts University

  24 shared

• Nicole S. Paulat

  18 shared

• Emma C. Teeling

  Wellcome Sanger Institute

  18 shared

• Daniel E. Schäffer

  Carnegie Mellon University

  18 shared

• Kevin A. Sullivan

  18 shared

Labs

• The Odyssey DNA LabPI

  A never-ending adventure with Dr. Heather Huson, the Robert & Anne Everett Professor of Dairy Cattle Genetics

Awards & honors

• CALS Rising Star Faculty Award (2022)
• Atkinson Center Faculty Fellow (2017)