Brussels, 10/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Researchers funded by the EU have discovered a gene which is responsible for the development of respiratory disease, the results of a study on pet dogs, the European Commission announced on Thursday. This rare genetic disease, primary ciliary dyskinesis (PCD), affects one person out of every 20,000 and causes chronic respiratory infections. This discovery was made by the LUPA project, which collected and compared samples of DNA taken from pure-breed dogs that are healthy or affected by similar diseases as humans. “This shows that pet dogs are not only man's best friend but also suffer from many of the same illnesses and can help us understand and treat those illnesses,” said Research Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. The PCD study was carried out by the University of Liège. The LUPA project, which involved partners from 12 European countries, received funding of €12 million under the seventh framework programme of the EU. (B.C./transl.fl)